Socialist Students ran campaign stalls every day of the University of Manchester freshers fair, campaigning for a £10 an hour minimum wage. We signed up 110 students to the society over the week as well as raising £48.

21 people attended our first 'what is socialism?' meeting. We discussed our aims and policies, and what we have done in the last year in the Manchester area.

We asked what campaigns students would be interested in. Many said they would like to be involved in the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition campaign for the general election.

Some were so enthusiastic to get involved that the following weekend they joined us on an anti-fracking demonstration.

Bridget Russell

Bradford

Socialist Students held a stall outside Bradford University on the first day of freshers week to campaign for a £10 an hour minimum wage and sign people up to join Socialist Students. We met many students having to work part-time to make ends meet, who agreed with us when we pointed out that multinationals like McDonalds could easily afford £10 an hour.

In the evening we held a 'what is socialism?' meeting, where several new people came. Despite only planning an hour long meeting, discussion went on much later as we covered issues from the Scottish independence referendum to the housing crisis.

We are determined to make a breakthrough this year and set up an official Socialist Students society.

Iain Dalton

Westminster

At the post freshers fair 'what is socialism?' meeting we discussed the Islamic State, Scotland and $15 Now's historic victory. Three people bought tickets to Socialism 2014 and activists made plans to hand in the paperwork to become an affiliated society next week.

Helen Pattison

Queen Mary

120 people signed up. On the day of the Scottish referendum we had a poster saying "Vote Yes and fight for socialism" which got a lot of interest and sparked debate. We sold ten copies of Megaphone (the Socialist Students magazine) and four copies of the Socialist. We plan to work with the LGBT+ society to show Pride next term and are working with the film society to show Spirt of 45. One student bought a ticket to Socialism 2014.

QMUL Socialist Students

Please send reports of Socialist Students freshers stalls and meetings to [email protected]

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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.

Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.

We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.