Freshers fairs: socialist ideas chime with students

Socialist Students, along with Socialist Party members, have been engaging with students at this year's freshers fairs on a wide range of issues - how to build a movement to scrap tuition fees; how to link up students and workers to bring down the Tories; as well as explaining our broader socialist ideas. Below we carry a small selection of reports of these activities. More reports will be carried in future issues of the Socialist.

Manchester

Over three days, Socialist Students in Manchester held regular campaign stalls. Our demand - "Kick out the Tories" - resonated with many students who link May's government to a rise in poverty pay, insecure work and skyrocketing student debt.

The last few years have been marked by young people looking for radical answers. It has become common sense to look at the capitalist system as fundamentally broken. It is no surprise then that around 300 students signed up to Socialist Students and dozens of international students attended our meetings with enthusiasm.

One of our meetings was titled 'What is communism?' As well as continuing to feed the myth that dictatorial Stalinist regimes represent 'socialism' or 'communism', since the collapse of the Soviet Union, people have been fed the myth that the ideas of Marx and Engels are irrelevant in the 21st century. Our experience shows that young people are coming to see through the lies. Our generation is rediscovering Marxism, and Socialist Students is playing a leading role in that.

Tom Costello

Leeds Beckett

This year, Socialist Students had one of the best ever freshers fairs at Leeds Beckett University, with over 90 people giving their details for our mailing list.

Our 'Kick out the Tories' leaflets drew lots of positive comments from students, showing a keenness to see an end to this weak government of austerity.

But many students also wanted to discuss how socialist ideas can change the world. This was reflected in the sales of around 20 copies of the Socialist during the week, alongside sales of the Socialist Students magazine Megaphone, showing a thirst for socialist ideas.

Despite a deluge of rain before our 'What is Socialism?' meeting was due to start, several freshers braved the weather to find out more about getting active in Socialist Students.

Iain Dalton, Socialist Students Yorkshire organiser

Winchester

Winchester University freshers fair took place during a downpour. But that didn't stop Socialist Students making its mark in winning new, but drenched, students into our ranks.

I stood outside the entrance to the building containing the major political societies. There isn't an established Socialist Students group, but this is soon to change given the immensely positive response to our leaflets from students.

Unfortunately the rain made it difficult for students to stop and discuss. But nonetheless, six Megaphone magazines were sold and new contacts made! Chants of "Kick out the Tories," "Save our NHS from Tory privatisation," and "Destroy student debt!" were very popular. A personal highlight was shouting "Save our NHS, Tories out!" to local Tory MP Steve Brine's face!

Members of the Tory and Lib Dem societies spotted my success and started to leaflet on the other side of the entrance. However, the sight of a nearby bin overflowing with their leaflets made it perfectly clear that Socialist Students is destined for growth in Winchester.

Michelle Francis

Sussex

Sussex University Socialist Students freshers campaign stall 19 September 2018, photo Scott Jones (Click to enlarge)

Students from Brighton and Sussex had a successful stall at this year's Sussex University freshers fair. With a growing presence at both local universities, we were able to turn up in greater numbers than ever before.

Students were enthused by our petition to kick out the Tories, and others stopped to ask us about socialism. Several put their details down to help us re-affiliate to the students' union this year.

We are currently preparing for an introductory meeting of Socialist Students on 4 October to launch another successful year for the group.

It was clear from the discussions held on the stall that people recognised the need to build a campaigning organisation, with a presence both on and off the campuses, that can help wage a genuine struggle to change society.

Sussex Socialist Students

Portsmouth

No surprise there was interest in our stall at Portsmouth Freshers Fair, we were the only ones saying "Kick out the Tories!" and demanding an immediate general election to ensure tuition fees are scrapped and a socialist anti-austerity alternative is built. Our meeting after the fair discussed that and other questions like Brexit. Portsmouth Socialist Students is up and running and ready to play its part in the downfall of Maybot and the Tories.

Nick Chaffey

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Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.