Student election battles

Submitted by Matthew on 16 March, 2011 - 3:33

Student union elections are currently taking place at universities across the country. Following the wave of student action last winter, there have been many more left slates of candidates, organised by anti-cuts activists, though the cooling of the political temperature has meant relatively few victories.

There have been some bright spots, mainly in London, such as the left’s victory at traditionally conservative Royal Holloway, and a decisive takeover of UCL Union by the left after two years of building a powerful anti-cuts base. In many universities where left candidates did not win, they received a strong vote. Results are not yet in for University of London Union, where left-winger Clare Solomon is standing for re-election as president, but faces a strong right-wing campaign.

Workers’ Liberty members led the left/anti-cuts slate at Hull University, and we are also standing as sabbatical officers at Leeds, City, Westminster and Liverpool. Liverpool University AWL’s Bob Sutton told us about his campaign:

“The response has been overwhelmingly positive. A lot of students didn’t realise the Guild played no role in the protests and walkouts last year; it didn’t even meet to discuss our response to the Browne Review. People understand a lot more would have been possible if our union had worked to build and generalise the action. Students are also very bothered about what cuts will mean for their courses and teaching, and want a strong response to that.

“Beyond that we’re raising bigger questions such as are the cuts really necessary, and putting free education back on the agenda.

“One of our best campaigners got involved after getting a leaflet. His mum’s been messed around by the NHS over getting funding for her treatment, and it’s affected his studies, so the anti-cuts message really hit home with him.

“There are big job cuts planned at Liverpool Hope. The unions are balloting for action and tomorrow [16 March], when we rally outside the Liverpool University senate to oppose a rise in fees, we’ll have a student comrade from Hope speaking.

“Our UCU branch will be speaking too, and we’re mobilising students to support their national strike over jobs and pensions next week.”

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