Liverpool Uni

The first meeting of Liverpool Socialist Students this year was magnificent. After handing thousands of leaflets out and hundreds of names were gathered during freshers week, 60 people turned up!

The discussion was excellent with contributions from Socialist Party and Socialist Students members. The discussion was on ‘what is socialism?’ – an introductory meeting for newcomers, of which there were around 45 in attendance.

We worked hard through the week, doing at least two campaign stalls every day, one day we did four! In total we sold dozens of copies of the Socialist, as well as the Socialism Today magazine, What We Stand For pamphlet and raised donations, despite the fact that nobody even had their student loan through yet.

Our next discussion is on ‘The struggle for reproductive rights’. Loads of those who came to our first meeting said they would like to come again, and help us with campaigning. 

Throughout this academic year, we will meet weekly. In Liverpool, both Socialist Students and the Socialist Party are growing at pace!

Joe Woolfall

Uni of South Wales

During the University of South Wales freshers’ week, we met some excellent socialists. Last year, keen international students showed the most interest. This year, the most socialist-minded students from here in the Valleys made a bee line for us.

We were kicked out of the main hall. The uni isn’t happy with us after we campaigned last term for the launch of a Gaza encampment and held a mini pop-up gig for Gaza. But with the sun shining, and our colourful pop-display grabbing attention, we did well outside.  

67 people signed up over two days. The most political have already attended the local Socialist Party branch and Socialist Students will be holding weekly meetings too.

No one issue dominated discussions at Freshers. Quite a few students mentioned inequality in Britain and internationally. And no one likes Keir Starmer!

We’ll be addressing the redundancies the uni has announced – and approaching the uni workers’ trade union UCU. The Socialist Party branch already has good links with the activists after attending all their picket lines in 2022-23.

The uni has a massive building project right in the middle of campus. Spending loads of money while cutting staff sets the scene for a fightback!

Mariam Kamish

Sussex Uni

At the University of Sussex, many students spoke to us about the cost-of-living crisis, citing higher prices for rent, food and energy, with many complaining that the maintenance loans provided to students are nowhere near enough to cover this.

Others were outraged at the proposals to raise tuition fees again, with huge anger directed towards the new Labour government for even considering this.

A number of international students, who are already faced with much higher fees than domestic students, explained to us the extra burden this can create.

There was big support for our calls for fully funded free education and for emergency intervention by universities and the government to provide extra financial assistance to students.

Fightback

The overall feeling was one of relief that the Tories are gone, but an understanding that the only way we will get anything from Starmer’s new government is if we are willing to fight for it. Socialist Students at Sussex is now meeting regularly and discussing plans for organising a campaign around some of these pressing issues.

On the day of the freshers’ fair, 21 different students bought a copy of the Socialist and even more signed up to get involved, showing the growing appetite for ideas that can provide an alternative to the rotten system of capitalism that expects students and workers to pay for its crisis.

Callum Joyce

Nottingham Uni

Nine new students came to our first meeting to discuss ‘what is socialism?’, Socialist Students as a national organisation, the role of the trade union movement, and possible campaign ideas on campus. Our ‘meet and greet’ the day before was promising too, with students coming to both.

Rafi Kazi

York student solidarity with Nigeria protesters

It was a great start to the semester with many students standing in solidarity with the protests in Nigeria. Despite the Monday rain and the lingering effects of freshers flu, lots of people signed our petition calling for the release of all protesters unjustly held in Nigeria, and for charges to be dropped.

Thank you to the people of York for supporting Socialist Students with your donations, turnout and encouragement! 

Louie Nardini