Adam Gillman, Reading Socialist Party
Earlier this year, Reading College, privately run by Activate Learning, banned Socialist Students from using meeting rooms, saying we can only meet in the canteen and weren’t able to give out leaflets or put up posters relating to Socialist Students.
They claimed the college had to remain “politically neutral” and that staffing issues were behind their decision. They stated if Socialist Students had more attendees then they could justify staff supervision. The college also said that the posters needed to be agreed from a marketing perspective!
We want to meet to discuss with fellow students about socialist ideas and to campaign for our education. We want to stand alongside striking workers and fight for the education system we deserve.
We got in touch with the University and College Union (UCU) branch at Reading College who agreed to help. We drafted letters against this political discrimination.
A few weeks into our campaign, we have had a victory. On 23 March we came to a deal, Socialist Students can now meet monthly.
We have built important links with our local UCU branch and now plan to meet to discuss with other students interested in a socialist alternative to capitalism. And plan how we can campaign to fight back against Tory austerity in Reading.
