Building Socialist Students



socialiststudents.org.uk


Portsmouth

“Yes! Socialists! My people!” This was just one of many positive comments Socialist Students received at the Portsmouth University freshers fair.

There was a noticeable international flavour – we spoke to students from as far afield as Italy, Romania, China and Nigeria.

This year we will be campaigning against zero-hour contracts on campus, using our links with the local trade union movement to widen the campaign to Portsmouth as a whole. Many people we spoke to said that zero-hour contracts can be the only jobs on offer when studying, and wanted to fight for decent working conditions.

Fifty students signed up, with eleven coming to our first meeting on what Socialist Students stands for. The second meeting will discuss a regional demo against zero-hour contracts before Christmas.

Andy Waterman

Swansea

Socialist Students had a fantastic two days at Swansea University, signing up 65 members. We spoke to students interested in fighting against a broken fees system and zero-hour contracts, students angry against war, as well as students who knew straight away they were socialists and immediately reached for a copy of the Socialist!

Ben Golightly

Leeds

Over the last few weeks, Socialist Students members have run stalls fairs at Leeds Uni, Leeds Met and Leeds Trinity, as well as Leeds City College.

Most people came to speak to us because of the socialist alternative to crisis-ridden capitalism that we’re putting forward.

200 students signed up to find out more about Socialist Students at Leeds University, with 90 at Leeds Met.

Over 20 people attended their first Socialist Students meeting at Leeds Uni on ‘What is Socialism?’ The meeting was introduced by Ian Pattison, Socialist Students national chair. Students were also inspired by Weizmann Hamilton of the Democratic Socialist Movement in South Africa, who spoke about the explosive events taking place in that country over Skype.

A successful meeting was also held at Leeds Trinity.

Iain Dalton

Birmingham

At Birmingham City University, Socialist Students members collected over 160 signatures on our petition against tuition fees and course cuts, with 30 interested in getting involved with the society.

At the University of Birmingham several students stopped to discuss the socialist alternative to capitalism, with 20 copies of Megaphone magazine sold.

Adam Freeman has reported on a successful start of term for Socialist Students at Winchester University. Charlotte Wall reported a good response at Bradford University, where Socialist Students campaigned against war in Syria and zero-hour contracts.


Megaphone: Magazine of Socialist Students

2013 edition includes articles on NUS, fighting the EDL and zero-hour contracts.

£1 To order phone 020 8558 7947