Rallying the student left

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IT appears that the Left is not as active among students as it used to be. What do you think Socialist Student can do?

Karen: In many areas there is quite a lot of activity. But on a national level it's certainly true that it's quieter.

The Socialist Workers Party is recoiling from student politics and the Socialist League is disappearing ... But we are hopeful that this new initiative will revitalise things.

NOLS is not very left-wing national level. What's it like rank and file level?

Jane: Clause 4, the dominant tendency in NOLS, has rocketed to the right in the last 12 months.

They've always prided themselves on being the representative voice of student activists - the people who don't give a lead but reflect what your average full time student union officer in your average univerSit is sity is thinking.

But your average student union officer in your average university isn't very similar to a kid in a tech, or to an average Labour Club activist. Clause 4 have created for themselves a culture of "sophisticated" student union bureaucrats, and that's caught up with them.

Closer Karen: They're moving closer to the Left Alliance (Communist Party/Liberals).

Jane: But in the Labour Clubs there has been an influx of left wingers who have joined the Labour Party because of what's going on nationally. They're more politically sussed thant he leadership of Clause 4, and more active in their local labour movemènt too.

There are not a lot of clubs that are dominated by Clause 4's politics. In those that are, there is now a growing current against The first issue of a new paper, Socialist Student, is just out, published by Socialist Students in NOLS and the Socialist Student Alliance. Karen Talbot (a member of the National Union of Students Executive) and Jane Ashworth talked about it to Socialist them.

You've got a Socialist Students in NOLS day-school scheduled for November. What are your plans?

Jane: Primarily it will be about NUS conference. It won't be a rally-type event - instead it will break down into small working units to draw up our amendments and so on for NUS conference.

Karen: It's very important that we make sure our position is heard. That's why we need to get together and. have those discussions on the issues coming up - so we can have a high profile at the national conference.

Jane: We'll also have to talk about the situation in NOLS, Last year a lot of delegates at NOLS conference - enough to tip the political balance were ruled out of order, sometimes by fair means but generally. by foul. We'll have to make sure we get it together this year to avoid that happening again.

What sort of issues will you be raising at NUS conference? You've mentionier campaigning on cuts and privatisation. What about wider political issues?

Karen: I would guess the Youth Training Scheme (YTS) will come up. There's a possibility that peace will come up Hasn't been big issue in the the NOLS leadership refusing to support the Solidarnosc student union unequivocally or to break links with the state-sponsored Polish student union?

Karen: I think if an international issue does get on the conference agenda, it's more likely to be the Middle East.

Not Ireland?

Karen: Not as yet. A lot of work has got to go into it before we get that debate prioritised. How do you plan to organise around Socialist Student, apart from these conferences?

Jane: It's being sold in quite a lot of colleges already. It can be useful in consolidating Labour Clubs around us and setting up new ones. Comrades in Manchester, for example, are concentrating on pne particular Pit oi bina er Sindenes on sols ine'.

Students, workers: tech and doing regular side it.

Also, where your Labour Club is dominated by either Militant or Clause 4, and you can't get a look-in, a Socialist Student society or caucus is useful.

Will you be trying to get Labour Clubs to sponsor Socialist Student?

Karen: Yes.

Jane: I think provided that Socialist Student is seen to be open and democratic, it could become extremely big.

Karen: Yes. A national left student paper doesn't exist at the moment.

Jane: And the left. press doesn't cover student issues. Contact Socialist Students in NOLS, c/o Bryn Griffiths, 35, Quebec St., Brighton.

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