Theory and Analysis

Manchester rent strike victory shows the way forward – fight for free education!

Recently the students of the University of Manchester have experienced a victory from their rent strike against the landlord of their halls and the university itself. The students were striking after being lulled into their accommodation and paying full fees even though their lessons were all on zoom meetings and weren’t getting the quality of education they paid for.  There was the infamous ‘HMP Fallowfield’ incident on 5 November, where students – Read more…

By Marxist Student Writers, ago

No help for postgraduates; marketisation to blame!

The recent announcement by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) governmental body is a slap in the face for all Postgraduate students. They have announced they will not provide further funded extensions for students who will finish their research after 30th September 2021. Whilst this may be welcome for students in that situation, the vast majority of postgraduate students have been left by the wayside.

By Marxist Student Writers, ago

Manchester students strike back

In recent weeks, there has been an explosion of activism on Fallowfield campus at the University of Manchester (UoM), as students grow increasingly angry at the way they’ve been treated by university bosses. Since being lulled to campuses at the start of this academic year, students have faced lockdown and isolation, with £9k fees for online courses, a lack of mental health services, and sky-high rents for shoddy accommodation. This is an Read more…

By Marxist Student Writers, ago

‘Fascism’ in the USA?

Some on the left would have you believe that the prospect of fascism is looming over the US. But is this realistic, or just a ploy to shore up support for the Democratic establishment? Only a Marxist understanding of events – based on the state of the class struggle – can provide the answer.

By Marxist Student Writers, ago

Higher education pay: Thanks for nothing! Fight for the full claim!

Non-teaching staff in higher education (HE) have been ‘offered’ a derisory 0% pay ‘rise’ this year. In the middle of a pandemic where union members are on the frontline in universities, workers are seeing just how much they are valued by management. The joint union claim was for a mere 5% pay rise – hardly a king’s ransom. The ‘pay offer’ also doesn’t address any of the other parts of the claim. Read more…

By Marxist Student Writers, ago

Over 300 young revolutionaries gravitate towards Cambridge Marxists

    On 5 November, Cambridge Marxist Society held its weekly meeting, this week focused on the topic of “Capitalism and Mental Health”. The meeting was attended by over 300 participants, with 340 in the call at its peak, which was an extraordinary number.   Participants tuned in from countries across the world, from Sweden to Canada, Iceland to Palestine, and across mainland Europe from Spain in the West to the Baltics and Read more…

By Marxist Student Writers, ago

UoM students fight back! Statement from the Manchester Marxists

  The University of Manchester bosses and landlords have proven to be nothing but selfish profiteering fat cats as students mobilise against the spontaneous raising of fences imprisoning Fallowfield Campus. On the 5th of November, the university put up fences at Fallowfield Campus to enforce students to stay in their accommodation once their rent had been paid. This was achieved with absolutely no warning from the University of Manchester to the students, Read more…

By Marxist Student Writers, ago

Mental health: pharmaceuticals, therapy and society

We previously published a review of The Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – And the Unexpected Solutions, a book by Swiss-British writer and journalist Johann Hari, in which he attempts to re-examine the way that society views depression. However, while Hari raises some valid criticisms, his critique ends up being exaggerated and one-sided. In the past period, the scourge of mental illness has increasingly come to public attention, and with good reason. Read more…

By Marxist Student Writers, ago

Self-care alone can’t solve the student mental health crisis

  As we now prepare to enter another national lockdown, mental health will undoubtedly suffer for many. Yet before it even begins, we’ve already seen over one university student death a week so far this semester, as reported by a recent article from The Tab, with all tied to mental health or drug use. The Tory government has pushed students back into the stress of university studies, in a time of social Read more…

By Marxist Student Writers, ago

Students strike back as universities profit from suffering

Now weeks into the start of the new academic year, and students across the country are suffering in isolation. With minimal support coming from university administrators, student unions and charities are warning of a mental health crisis amongst quarantined students. “There was a mental health crisis across universities prior to the pandemic,” stated Sara Khan, NUS vice president for liberation and equality. “The pandemic has only exacerbated these issues.” Earlier this month, one Read more…

By Marxist Student Writers, ago