Will Forde and Abi Hodgson are members of the Socialist Worker Student Society (SWSS), which is responsible for raising awareness and advocating for a variety of social justice issues.
The society welcomes students from both Newcastle University and Northumbria, creating a collaborative space where students from across the city fight for causes close to their hearts.
They hold weekly meetings upstairs at 6 pm in the Percy Arms (NE1 7RW) with weekly guest speakers who add insight into the political topic being discussed. Previous meetings that have been held have covered politically salient topics such as ‘disability a very capitalist condition’ and ‘ICE, racism and resistance: can Trump be stopped?’.
Both students outlined a key motivation for the society’s work, being that they and other students are united in “one struggle one fight… against all forms of inequality and discrimination… brought about by capitalism”.
One prominent event held on 4th February was entitled ‘Abortion rights and trans rights: why the state wants to control our bodies’. Abi and Will emphasised the important contemporary nature of discussing subjects that are relevant in contemporary society. With this meeting being relevant in light of the UK Supreme Court’s ruling, which legally defined “sex" in the Equality Act 2010 as being based on biological sex, and thus allowing for the exclusion of transgender people from same sex spaces.
Further fostering a greater sense of community in tackling contemporary social justice discourses.
For their meeting on abortion rights and trans rights, the guest speaker was Katie Coles, from the national student office of the Socialist Workers Party. The speaker are their meetings operate as a method to highlight the main aspects of the topics at hand. This leads to a group-wide discussion, which will allow students to question and enhance their understanding of issues from one another. Further fostering a greater sense of community in tackling contemporary social justice discourses.
On the topic, Will added, “We live in an exploitative system which perpetuates the threats to reproductive healthcare and trans rights”. The nature of the arguments raised aims to offer students a different perspective and approach to dissecting issues. Will added, that are “All of the our meetings are a safe space. We are an inclusive society.”
Another key purpose of events like this is to help proactive change on the university campuses, especially from within the students’ unions. At Newcastle University, they hope to see a strong commitment to trans students, citing the importance of gender-neutral toilets and the need for the LGBTQ+ Officer at the Newcastle University Students’ Union (NUSU).
Notably, there is a plethora of well-being services available at NUSU for trans student such as grants for up to £50 to help purchase items that will help students with gender dysphoria. On the topic of trans rights, NUSU has said, “We stand in staunch solidarity with our trans students, and you can always count on a safe space in your Students’ Union”.
They hope their work can help students feel more comfortable in their identity and political beliefs as part of a united effort to challenge dominant political beliefs...
For the SWSS, part of hosting events is to help raise the profile of the groups affected by political decisions. Abi remarked, “Visibility is the first step to acceptance”. They hope their work can help students feel more comfortable in their identity and political beliefs as part of a united effort to challenge dominant political beliefs during an era where politics is becoming more polarised.
The society largely spread awareness of their causes by postering on campus. With the intention to invite students to events where no prejudice or discrimination in an environment prioritises free speech that respects all groups within society.
With each event that they hold, they not only want to educate students but also want to empower them to become more politically engaged. Abi stated that “students hold a lot more power than they realise” and emphasised their ability to create change. They highlighted that students are the grassroots in aiding their students’ union and the National Union of Students to vocalise their demands.
“We are fundamental parts of an emerging society… students can change the outcomes of things”, said Will. The SWSS want to make students feel that they can go to a protest both on and off campus. With the desire to create a network of more students and other societies to advocate for issues. As for students, it feels easier to participate in solidarity as part of larger protests.
The duty of helping to cultivate a more inclusive and safer space for all students is integral to society. Abi emphasised that students “are going to be the people who are in charge next. We are going to be the nurses, the politicians, the teachers”. Reinforcing the importance of being politically active at a young age to create the change you want to see in the world.
"To be active, to grow our numbers and to build a community around activism on campus”.
Will concluded to by surmising the society’s ambitions "to be active, to grow our numbers and to build a community around activism on campus”.
Although not a ratified NUSU society, the SSWS operates as an example of a society that emphasises the importance of having a space for student voices on campus. Demonstrating that students truly do have the power to change the change they want to see.
If you would like to find out more about the Socialist Worker Student Society, you can follow them on Instagram @swssncl.