UK University Students and Action Against Proposals

[Quail]

I'm surprised this issue hasn't generated more discussion since there are quite a few of us who are students at university or sixth form on here, and probably quite a few more who work in universities.

I was just wondering what kind of action (if any) has been planned? At Sheffield, basically our union is going for the "write angry letters" approach which I don't think is going to make an ounce of difference. There's a demo on the 10th in London, which my union is putting on coaches for, but I'm not convinced that's going to make much difference either. What's the situation like at other universities?

[ed miliband]

There is a student walkout planned for the 24th of November which durhamleft (I think) made a thread about yesterday.

The idea that writing bloody letters is going to change things is going to have any effect whatsoever is insane.

Does Sheffield have an anarchist society? Most left-wing university societies seem to either be Trotskyist or Labour youth (or both at the same time).

[here for the revolution]

Kayl, I'm at the Uni of Sheffield too! I've spoken to a few people (I'm only a fresher, so don't know too much) but it seems that a black bloc is likely to occur on the tenth, however, we obviously need to put more pressure on than simply one day. However, there's supposed to be a march on Clegg's office as well as a rally in town, although I think these are possibly being controlled by the SWP.
aufkleben, I just got back from Cinema Syndicate - the closest to an anarchist society at the union, as far as I'm aware, it basically shows films and then holds discussions after relating them to current issues. It's designed to also draw in people from other views both for discussion and as a means of swaying people over. Other than that, there seems to be a lot of local groups and action with no affiliation to the Uni other than the fact that some of their members are students.

[Quail]

There is a student walkout planned for the 24th of November which durhamleft (I think) made a thread about yesterday.

The idea that writing bloody letters is going to change things is going to have any effect whatsoever is insane.

Does Sheffield have an anarchist society? Most left-wing university societies seem to either be Trotskyist or Labour youth (or both at the same time).

Oops, must have missed that thread. Our university has official trot groups, but AFed is quite big and a few of us are students, so we're trying to push for some more direct action style tactics.


Kayl, I'm at the Uni of Sheffield too! I've spoken to a few people (I'm only a fresher, so don't know too much) but it seems that a black bloc is likely to occur on the tenth, however, we obviously need to put more pressure on than simply one day. However, there's supposed to be a march on Clegg's office as well as a rally in town, although I think these are possibly being controlled by the SWP.
aufkleben, I just got back from Cinema Syndicate - the closest to an anarchist society at the union, as far as I'm aware, it basically shows films and then holds discussions after relating them to current issues. It's designed to also draw in people from other views both for discussion and as a means of swaying people over. Other than that, there seems to be a lot of local groups and action with no affiliation to the Uni other than the fact that some of their members are students.
That's odd, I was actually going to go to that today haha. La Haine is an awesome film :) I know there's going to be an anarchist bloc on the 10th, but I don't know what will go on with that. Remember to get your coach ticket from the box office!

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

I don't know what to do, the left at my university is held by both Labour Youth and Socialist Students (SPEW). Whilst i've had membership of both in the past, i'm not committed either to Labourism (obviously) or Trotskyism, so i'm in something of a dilemma.

Socialist Students says it's an independent organisation, thought they're clearly affiliated to SPEW. Is it worth joining them?

[Wanted Man]

I get the impression from these posts that student unions in Britain are largely either extremely reformist, or merely a toy for leftist parties. Are there any that are actually founded on the basis of self-organisation of students, rather than trying to be part of the "power" on the universities or simply toeing the party line?

[here for the revolution]

That's odd, I was actually going to go to that today haha. La Haine is an awesome film :) I know there's going to be an anarchist bloc on the 10th, but I don't know what will go on with that. Remember to get your coach ticket from the box office!

Aha awesome! I couldn't make the film thanks to my timetable but I went along to chat to the folks afterwards and let them know I'm around :). La Haine is an awesome film though! Yeah...it'll be my first experiencing with black blocs me being all young and innocent and the like, but I've already got my ticket so I'll just see how it goes.

El_Granma, have you tried looking for local groups?

[Lyev]

I don't know what to do, the left at my university is held by both Labour Youth and Socialist Students (SPEW). Whilst i've had membership of both in the past, i'm not committed either to Labourism (obviously) or Trotskyism, so i'm in something of a dilemma.

Socialist Students says it's an independent organisation, thought they're clearly affiliated to SPEW. Is it worth joining them?Socialist Students (SS - sorry for this abbreviation!) is sort of independent. They have loose links with the main party -- I think SPEW gives them some amount of funding -- and SS are also loosely linked to Youth Fight for Jobs (YFfJ), another youth organisation loosely linked to SPEW. However, in such a period as this one, I would value pragmatism above the qualms you may have with the theoretical nuances of one organisation. Although I suppose I might be a bit biased. But short of starting up another organisation, which would ultimately be divisive, I would join SS.

Also, can we discuss this walkout planned for around 20th of November? I am weary of giving it my support or participating in it. What are anyone else's thoughts?

[here for the revolution]

I think that it's definitely a good plan, however I don't understand why it's ten days after the demo - surely it should ride on the back of the national demo and make the greatest use of the atmosphere?

[Quail]

I don't know what to do, the left at my university is held by both Labour Youth and Socialist Students (SPEW). Whilst i've had membership of both in the past, i'm not committed either to Labourism (obviously) or Trotskyism, so i'm in something of a dilemma.

Socialist Students says it's an independent organisation, thought they're clearly affiliated to SPEW. Is it worth joining them?
If SS is anything like it is at my uni, all they seem to do it sell papers. They're never at any demos, pickets or anything, but you could always join up and push them into getting more active.



Also, can we discuss this walkout planned for around 20th of November? I am weary of giving it my support or participating in it. What are anyone else's thoughts?
Yeah, that other thread got derailed by Palingenesis (surprise surprise). I quite like the idea of a national walk-out. It would be good to get students that are still in school to get involved in these demonstartions because they're the ones that are going to suffer. There is the issue of disciplinary action, but I don't think that if a large number of students participated, there would be too many repercussions. The school is unlikely to expel a large group of people. It would probably be helpful to get a left-leaning teacher or two on your side.

As a uni student, there won't be any repercussions for me missing a day of uni, so it's not even a difficult decision for me. Hopefully a lot of others will do the same and make their presence known.

[Wanted Man]

Also, can we discuss this walkout planned for around 20th of November? I am weary of giving it my support or participating in it. What are anyone else's thoughts?

What's wrong with it? I mean, it's one thing if only 2 people walk out, but otherwise, surely it would be a bit crappy to not participate? :p

[Hit The North]

I get the impression from these posts that student unions in Britain are largely either extremely reformist, or merely a toy for leftist parties. Are there any that are actually founded on the basis of self-organisation of students, rather than trying to be part of the "power" on the universities or simply toeing the party line?

What is this supposed to mean: self-organisation of students, independent of socialist or anarchist organisation? Of course you get that. There will be thousands of unaffiliated students taking part in the demo and actions beyond that. Hopefully, many of them will end up joining organisations which will deepen their activity and their politics.