Cuts Stamp Out Apathy

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Led as 'GLC-type Marxists' by Tory councillors!! CONTRARY to the popular myth that our universities and polytechnics are hives of revolutionary political activity, I have found that the overwhelming feeling througnout my particular poly (Kingston) is apathy.

Apart from a handful of 'trendy' left-wingers, the majority of students cannot be bothered with politics. Consciousnessraising is a very difficult enterprise! mainly because of the huge proportion of middle class students, quite content to casually observe the continuing onslaught on the living standards of the working class.

Even the proposed cutting in student grants causes little more than murmurs of disapproval.

These students know that the legislation will mean that Mummy and Daddy' will have to dig a little deeper into their pockets, but they do not see that it also constitutes a conscious effort on the part of the Tory government to further exclude working class youth from going on to HE, as the parents of working class children will no longer be able to afford to send their children to university or polytechnic.

This plan of the Tories, in the long run, leads to the continuing availability of factory or dole fodder, and prevents the development of class consciousness that should occur in Higher Education.

What the Tories do not public. realise, though, is that this legislation will result in even more working class youth on the dole or in cheap labour schemes, and increasing hatred of the system, and that these youth, given the support of our movement, will turn increasingly to the politics of the revolutionary left.

On our part we must ensure that these youth are not turned in any other direction through distrust of the Labour Party whom they see as just as bad as the SDP or Tories.

Despite my gloomy opinion of student politics it is vital to work within NOLS and the NUS to develop the left. It is pointless and dangerous to exclude students from a revolutionary framework.

Many working class students and a few honest middle class students, although left, are unsure in their beliefs and, with help, can channel their efforts along the correct lines into revolutionary politics.

This should be done through local events such as fighting the grant legislation and organising sit-ins throughout the country. The role of youth who are already politically active should be to encourage students and not be sectarian towards them.

It is a difficult task but one that must be done if we are to achieve our aims.

AL SYRETT (Kingston NOLS) millini TOP Four new law bus fares.