by Chris Strafford

University of Manchester is definitely not the Sorbonne in 1968, but on the 22nd April between 250 and 300 students took militant action against the declining standard of education, lack of contact times the downgrading of library services and with a little bit of a fight from the Left a fight for a free education. The demo was on the whole peaceful, the hysterical claims of riot police by some local rags really was not the reality. The police surprised by the numbers, anger and intent frantically drafted in extra numbers from all over the place to try and control the demonstration. This demonstration was not to be controlled, even Labour students and those who we could consider right wing broke the police lines twice to march onto the newly built Arthur Lewis building and occupy it. Here scuffles did break out as security staff and police tried to regain control of the situation, yet again the militancy and intent of the students ensured again a victory against the police. After massive cheers from shocked faces, most of whom are not from the usual left milieu. Something which is very much welcome.

The discussion would centre around a set of demands decided rather quickly by member of the ‘Reclaim the Uni’ group which Communist Students participate in. The discussion was long and at times tiresome as the use of consensus decision making instead of a show of hands ensured that individuals could hold up the process of decision making for far too long, by doing this our numbers began to dwindle. This was the worst aspect of the day, however, the participation of hundreds of students in the democratic discussion and creation of demands was refreshing. The demands formulated from this are:

– The President / VC will write a monthly column about the goings for the UMSU newspaper Student Direct, that will also be published on the UMSU website.
– The President / VC will also be interviewed by Student Direct, using questions sent in by students, once a semester.

– The current public Q&A session that the President / VC takes part in once a semester will be publicised to staff and students by the University. All staff are welcome to attend.

– Students and Staff must have representation on all steering panels, including Building Design. Staff and Student must have input into the selection of the new President / VC.

– All first-year Course Welcoming lectures must include a talk on avenues of student participation in University decision-making processes and explain what the “2015 Vision” and “Capital Plan” will mean practically-i.e. building plans; department moving plans; axing of course module options.

– A minimum cap of 12 hours per week must be introduced for face-to-face contact hours. Courses with more contact time must not use this as a reason to cut hours.

– Online and Distance Learning are only to supplement this cap-they are not a substitute for contact time. Core modules must have non-online learning alternative options so as to be accessible to all students.

– The Personal Tutor system should ensure that all students have a one-to-one contact at University. Students must have good access to health and disability support staff.

– The university ends staff cut-backs now. No dependence on Temporarily Contracted Staff.

– Stop investment in and from unethical industries, including the arms trade. Investments must be made transparent and open to Staff/Student discussion. The Freedom of Information Act must be respected.

– The resources of recently closed libraries must be re-instated. In future, new library buildings should be built before the old ones are closed.

– Increase in use of University-based talent, such as in-sourcing from the Architecture Department. This increases Student participation in University decision making.

– The University will join students and staff in our fight for a free education. The President / VC will be open in their support for a free education.

These demands are the start of what should turn into an open democratic mass campaign of students, who are coming together because of political convictions, tuition fees, lack of books and many other demands.

The demands and the campaign as a whole seems to focus mainly on the University of Manchester and on bread and butter issues. Whilst it is the case that these demands are of vital importance to the student population it should only be the beginning to the creation of more rounded and political platform that will arm the students movement with the ideas and demands that can bring about real and lasting change. In short, the students movement needs to take on the ideas of Marxism and radical anti capitalism, and must do this without excluding other left wing and radical tendencies, what is needed is a plural, open and democratic students movement.

For the time being Marxists and Communist Students will find themselves in the minority in the ‘reclaim the uni’ group and the movement as a whole. That’s fine. Unlike some on the left we do not fear taking our politics to an often hostile audience, Marxists in the students movement need to have the confidence to take on the necessary fights, in our movement and in wider society. We wish to work with all those on the Left who are fighting against closures, privatisation, tuition fees and the marketisation of our education system as well as fighting in our movement for deeper politicisation that looks at issues that face us all, and looks at the real need for a unified national students movement that has its foundations in the revolutionary tradition of Marxism.

Video footage from Channel M: http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1328266039/bctid1517402038