Phillip, College student in Cambridge
Socialist Students attended this year’s Cambridge University Fresher’s Fair to build for the 20 November youth strikes, as well as to collect sign ups for a potential official Socialist Students society.
Students were receptive to the anti-war messaging on the flyers and quick to express support for the slogan ‘Fight for our future, not their wars!’ Over twenty students left their details, many of these attend Anglia Ruskin University and the surrounding colleges, as well as from the University of Cambridge itself. This raises the possibility of having multiple societies in the city.
People we met leafleting attended our meeting later in the day and others expressed interest in attending future meetings. Discussions showed that there is a range of concerns including over the involvement of universities in companies like Palantir and the rising cost of tuition fees. Even in well-funded institutions like the University of Cambridge, there is still dissatisfaction with the way that funding is being handled and a desire for more support for students and their futures.
Plans have been made for a follow-up meeting to establish an official Cambridge group and to organise for the 20 November youth walkouts. This will unify students in the Cambridge Universities and colleges with others internationally in advocating for socialist change.
