Queen Mary, east London – cost of living
Mihaela Ivanova, Queen Mary Socialist Students
Thousands of students have begun university with tuition fees rising for the first time in over a decade, increased by a Labour government. While a financial crisis is sweeping universities, Keir Starmer rolled out the red carpet for bigot-in-chief Donald Trump.
Young people need a political voice more than ever. Socialist Students spoke to hundreds of students at Queen Mary about what role young people can play in fighting back the attacks on education, climate change, housing, and the war on Gaza.
Students were particularly concerned with the cost of living. Prices have gone above and beyond the maintenance loans that students get. Over 50% of students also work other jobs to survive.
Many students and staff agreed with our demands for free, fully funded education, as well as the need for students to play a role in forming a new mass workers’ party.
Last year, Queen Mary Socialist Students fought and won two campaigns – gender neutral changing rooms at the university gym, and a housing campaign which fought back the abuse tactics of a private landlord. We showed that students have the power to have our demands heard, and fight against the marketisation of our education.
We had 83 sign-ups at freshers, and have already held two successful meetings – discussing what we stand for, and what campaigns we should focus on.
If you want to fight for a future that provides for the needs of all, rather than for the profits of a tiny few, you should join Socialist Students. We fight for every issue facing students – for free and democratic control of our education, and the end of oppression and exploitation for all on campus, and beyond.
York – new party enthusiasm
Jacob Harding, York Socialist Students, and Iain Dalton, Yorkshire Socialist Party
100 students signed up. This is a record, and an indication that the new generation is becoming more and more interested in socialism.
We sold 19 Socialist newspapers, seven Socialist Student magazines, a variety of Marxist pamphlets, and political badges, raising £18.50 fighting fund on top.
To draw people in, we put up posters about the concrete issues Socialist Students fights for – free education, ending austerity, Palestine – as part of the working-class struggle.
Leading with ‘Your Party’ on our Socialist Students leaflets went down really well. There was disappointment in the days after infighting between Jeremy and Zarah burst into the open. Several said they had decided to join the Greens. But we raised that the clash in Your Party showed the need for collective mass working-class organisations, like trade unions, to be involved. This went down well.
We were handing out the leaflets, saying “join the Socialists – help build Corbyn and Sultana’s new party on campus”.
The other lesson is – print more leaflets! We had 600, and ran out after three and a half hours. So, for the last two and a half hours, we were just leading offering people the chance to buy the Socialist. It’s more leaflets than we’ve ever given out at York uni.
Liverpool – 60+ socialists
Hannah Ponting, Liverpool Socialist Students
For two weeks, Socialist Students held several campaign activities everyday across both University of Liverpool and Liverpool City College campuses. We spoke to hundreds of students interested in socialism, particularly now that students are feeling Labour’s rise in tuition fees. On 19 September, we held five campaign stalls across the University of Liverpool campus.
Freshers’ week coincided with Donald Trump’s visit to the UK. In Liverpool, we led a march of 75 people, with speakers including Socialist Students, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC), and Merseyside Pensioners Association.
Our first Socialist Students meeting of term had 67 attending, most had never been to a Socialist Students meeting before. Those at the meeting were eager to ask questions, contribute to the discussion, and learn more about socialism.
This fantastic start sets a great precedent for the year ahead. We hope to hold many more successful meetings, demos, and discussions throughout the year.
Oxford Brookes – reasons to fight back
Rae Cox, Oxford Socialist Party
On the question of a new party, it was the first time a lot of the students had heard from a group with a plan about what to do to make it a working-class party. Coming straight off Trump’s visit on 17 September, and with a Socialist Students campaign stall inside and outside, we met many students at freshers, enthused that we had organised national walkouts against the US President.
Many sign-ups were keen not just be a discussion group, but asked us about campaigns, marches, and future walkouts. Given more attacks loom on the horizon for students and workers, our task is to mobilise those we’ve met. Whether it’s campaigning for ‘Funding not Fees’, the call for a national trade union demo against Starmer’s cuts, cutting across the rise of the far right, we’re not short of reasons to fight back.
With a new society on campus affiliated to Socialist Students, we’re in a strong position going into term. And freshers showed there’s no shortage of people looking for answers and a socialist future.
Salford – Trump walkouts
Nursing student
I am part of a group of students trying to form a Socialist Students society.
We also did a walkout against Trump’s visit. We don’t agree with his values or what he represents, and wanted to make a stand against the red carpet being rolled out for him by our elected leaders. It was great to be a part of.
Our initial group had 12 Socialist Students supporters helping out at freshers, and we signed up loads more who are interested in being part of future events and campaigns. We were speaking on the megaphone, and encouraging students who were interested to come over to the stand to speak to us. Over four pages of names and contact details were collected.
Surrey – socialist alternative
John Reid, Guildford and Surrey Socialist Party
Very good response from students looking for a socialist alternative. 28 signed up to join Socialist Students. They bought 20 Socialist papers, four student magazine, and donated £19 to the fighting fund on top.
One student apologised for not making the anti-Trump demo, but will be coming to our Socialist Students meetings.
Students were upset at the shenanigans going on within ‘Your Party’. But they wanted to join a group on campus – Socialist Students – with a proven record of fighting racism and deportations, and fighting for free education and socialism.
