Morgan Tritton, Hertfordshire Socialist Students

Hertfordshire Socialist Students joined a collective of local organisations opposing racism, marching through the town, under the banner of ‘Herts Not Hate’. We were responding to rising anti-refugee and anti-migrant action in Hertfordshire, where several temporary accommodation hotels are located.

As we build for the Socialist Students conference on 14 February in Manchester, Herts Socialist Students is focused on strengthening links with organised workers locally, and highlighting the role students play in community action.

I spoke at the rally on behalf of Herts Socialist Students. I also shared the success of a recent sit-in by two Herts Socialist Students in defence of a Gazan university applicant, who had initially been unfairly denied an offer. As a result of the action, the university met our demands, and the applicant has now been offered a place at the University of Hertfordshire.

The speech by Morgan Tritton, Hertfordshire Socialist Students

“Students of Hertfordshire and the workers of Hertfordshire, fighting together against austerity, war, and all forms of oppression.

Higher education is in crisis. And Labour’s answer is just to push the costs onto us – the students and staff, while the rich get richer.

So, Socialist Students is saying we want to take the wealth off the super-rich, and put it to use. Fund education properly, abolish tuition fees, cancel student debt, and bring back real maintenance grants that rise with inflation.

And make education a public right, not a privilege or a big business. We’ve shared this message of ‘Funding Not Fees’ across campus.

And, in the last year, we have got considerable backing from the students. Starting with just four [Socialist Student members at Herts] last year, we’re now at nearly 100.

Our major campaign in the last year has been to end sexism and violence against women on campus. By ensuring prevention, training, and awareness is in place. But also signposting and support for victims is properly funded.

We passed a motion in student council to fight for this. But the university has responded with apathy and even refusal to back down from their non-compliance in providing quality anti-harassment and sexual misconduct training to all students.”