Socialist Students
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Socialist Students is a socialist organisation based in universities and FE/sixth form colleges across England, [[Wales]and Northern Ireland .Socialist Students was established in the late 1990s by members of the Socialist Party of England and Wales (SP )who had built support for the Save Free Education Campaign amongst students in the battle over the introduction of fees when New Labour was first elected in 1997.
Socialist Students describes itself as a politically independent organisation, and has its own national committee meetings and annual conference at which motions are debated and voted on.[1] . Socialist Students produces the political magazine The Student Socialist twice a year in September and in February. It works together with International Socialist Resistance (a Socialist youth organisation involving school students, trade unionists and young workers) on campaigns such as "Boost our Pay" and "Hands off our Schools" (against city academies). The two organisations have a joint presence on anti-war and anti-G8/climate change demonstrations, which they term the "Red Contingent".[2] Socialist Students also has international links through being affiliated to ISR with groups in countries such as Sweden, Pakistan and Germany as well as links with groups such as Socialist Youth in Ireland , Active Left Students and Blokbusters in Belgium , Youth against war and racism in the USA and Socialist Student Movement in Nigeria.
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[edit] Political programme
Socialist Students is anti-capitalist and follows the ideas of Socialism. However, the organisation is reasonably broad, with some in the ranks being members of parties other than the SP - for example the Green Party of England and Wales , with others being non-aligned . The structure of Socialist Students is federal, with each society or organising its own activity and campaigns as well as building national campaigns . Socialist Students aims to be a forum for students interested in socialist and Marxist ideas, while giving students experience in debating, organising and intervening in struggle.
Socialist Students links the struggles of students with that of workers. Socialist Students argue for opposition to the methods of individual terrorism, and for class unity against sectarianism in Iraq and the immediate withdrawal of coalition forces from Iraq and Afghanistan.
The focus upon the need to suuport workers struggles in Socialist Student's programme and activity has also led to the support for the industrial action taken by public sector workers in and outside education.Socialist Students has organised delegations from universities and colleges to picket lines of striking postal workers and civil servants. Socialist Students calls for a mass party to represent working class people, Socialist Students supports the Campaign for a New Workers' Party.
[edit] Recent growth
Socialist Students has 30 official societies in universities across England , Wales and Northern Ireland and a presence in another 20 colleges and schools.
Socialist Students members hold full time sabbatical student union positions in Lincoln , Portsmouth and Sussex universities. It also has members with part time positions in a number of other colleges and universities.
Socialist Students opposes the recent Governance Review conducted by the NUS leadership and campaigns with fighting local student unions for a campaigning democratic students union.
[edit] Campaign to Defeat Fees
After the National Union of Students (NUS) demonstration against fees on 29th October 2006, Socialist Students members launched the Campaign to Defeat Fees to argue for a fighting platform against tuition and top-up fees. [3] Prior to the campaign's first day of action, Socialist Students received a message of support from National Union of Students[4], a message Socialist Students welcomed but were still critical of NUS's lack of action.[5] The first day of action on 22nd February 2007 featured action taking place at over 40 Universities and Colleges[6], which was followed by another on 27th April 2007, alongside various meetings on this issue organised by local Socialist Student societies[7]. [8] So far students from 103 different schools, colleges or universities have signed the Campaign to Defeat Fees petition[9] The recent CDF day of action on February 21 featured large protests in Cambridge and coverage by the BBC in Manchester. Other protests have occurred this year including in Bangor. [10]
[edit] References
- ^ [1] ISR/Socialist Students conference - Young people get organised
- ^ [2] To Make Poverty History "We Need To Change The System", Socialist 400, 7/7/05
- ^ [3] Campaign to Defeat Fees
- ^ [4] NUS support Socialist Students' Campaign to Defeat Fees (CDF)
- ^ [5] Socialist Students reply to the NUS message of support for Campaign to Defeat Fees
- ^ [6] Protesting across the country
- ^ [7] Socialist Students protest against top-up tuition fees - retrieved 09/01/08
- ^ [8] Campaign to Defeat Fees
- ^ [9] Campaign to Defeat Fees signatures so far
- ^ [10] 'No fees' Student Protest - North Wales Daily Post
