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From The Socialist newspaper, 23 September 2020
Coventry: Socialist Students is back - come to our outside meet-ups
Michael Morgan, Coventry Socialist Students
At Coventry University, we talked to students angry about the crisis gripping universities.
Coventry Socialist Students put up posters and had a stall on campus. It was received positively by students, who took leaflets, read material, and discussed with us.
This summer, students experienced the A-level fiasco, Black Lives Matter and the continuing environmental crisis, so political engagement was high - many people stopped to talk to us.
Where students disagreed, we debated with them. Where they agreed, we encouraged them to sign up to Socialist Students. We got over 50 sign-ups.
Eleven came to our outdoor meeting, at a social distance, by Coventry university library. Students from Ireland to Colombia discussed the issues facing them.
The meeting gave freshers the opportunity to ask questions about our programme. We asked them: "Do you feel you're getting your money's worth?" and what they thought we should campaign on - housing and tuition fees were key.
Socialist Students campaigns for tuition fees to be scrapped, for living grants, and for student debt to be cancelled.
We will follow this up with a campaign stall and meeting each week, and a Socialist Students Zoom meeting for the West Midlands. Online communication is crucial for the student movement. But Socialist Students does not neglect face-to-face campaigning, and we do so safely.
Students are angry. Many are prepared to join a political fight against the injustices they face.
Socialist Students can provide a radical alternative to young people. Now we need it the most.
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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.
In The Socialist 23 September 2020:
Coronavirus news
North East lockdown: simmering anger at Tory incompetence
Testing shambles: unions must fight back
Johnson's schools social-distancing lie
Schools
Dispatches from the front - chaotic schools are not safe!
Workplace news
A day in the life of a salon worker
News
'FinCEN Files' expose rampant financial corruption: nationalise the banks!
Extend eviction ban! Cap rents! Build council homes!
Universities
Why I joined
Why we joined the Socialist Party
Campaigns
Coventry: Socialist Students is back
Liverpool Council must save care homes
Sussex: Hands off Peacehaven schools
Fighting fund: One week to raise £3,444
The Socialist: More than a newspaper
International news
Thailand: Youth rising against hated junta
Readers' opinion
TV: The English Game - how the working class made football the people's game
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