Historically, students have been at the forefront of political organizing and agitation. For example, in May of 1968, students in France played a crucial role in rallying millions during a month of massive protests, strikes, occupations and battles in the streets against the state. Today, students are uniting at the forefront of movements linking issues of war and occupation, globalization, and poverty. We hold both social and labour power (as present and future workers) as well as a unique place as one of the most rapidly radicalizing layers of society.

As we start a new school year, it is important to reflect on the efforts and accomplishments of student activism, and on ways in which students can continue to contribute to progressive, anti-capitalist movements.

ORGANIZING AT YORK

During the lead-up to the war and occupation of Iraq, a group of students came together at York University to form an anti-war coalition. We called ourselves NEWS (Now End War and Sanctions) on Iraq, and met weekly to discuss ways of creating a visibly militant opposition to the western, imperialist drive to control the Middle East. The coalition grew rapidly over the course of the year as it geared towards a broad base of the student body, uniting different individuals, groups, clubs and organizations. Some had previous experience with political organizing and agitating on campus, while others found themselves being newly politicized out of empathy for the people of Iraq.

During fall semester, NEWS succeeded in generating a visible opposition to the war on Iraq and the occupation of Palestine through tabling, leafleting, postering, and demonstrating. Some students visited classes, and engaged in debate with others about the political and economic motivations behind the US drive for war and control in the region. As well as speaking to fellow students at York, NEWS members traveled to high schools in order to educate younger students who may not have had access to war-related information outside of the corporate media.

In January, many students involved with NEWS helped SASWI (Students Against Sanctions and War in Iraq) organize a Pan-Canadian Student Anti-war conference at the University of Toronto. The conference was quite successful in bringing together students from all over Canada, as well as parts of the US, to discuss opposition to a US-led attack on the people of Iraq.

When the York community discovered that the International Centre for Security Studies at York (which is funded by NATO) had invited “journalist” and “American foreign policy analyst”, Daniel Pipes, to speak about “barriers to peace in the Middle East,” we quickly began organizing against his racist views. NEWS requested that Pipes not be allowed to speak in our student centre where his bigoted and militaristic ideas would undoubtedly offend and oppress. The request was initially granted, but subsequently overruled by the administration, and we found ourselves without any negotiating power.

Hundreds of students and faculty members quickly organized around a clear opposition to Pipes’ anti-Arab politics, in addition to his blacklisting and censorship of Academics who speak out against American foreign policy. A spontaneous occupation of President Lorna Marsden’s office continued the day’s events, during which York students demanded an explanation, apology, and a public forum to discuss freedom of speech and academic blacklisting in the face of increasing nationalism and militarism in the post-9/11 west. Though the occupation disbanded collectively after police were called in, it did afford us the opportunity to build solidarity amongst a much broader base of York students, faculty and staff. Throughout the school year we continued to hold the York administration accountable as they stepped up their efforts to compromise the rights of the student population.

NEWS and allies organized and coordinated with SASWI for the International Day of Student Strike and Action against the war on Iraq. On March 5, 2003, students across the country demonstrated to school administrations and the Canadian government that we were seriously concerned with the erosion of educational funding and the war on the people of Iraq. The strike at York was the most militant in Ontario, as the campus was effectively shut down for a large part of the day. The school administration once again refused to support us, and Lorna called in police to stop the pickets. Three NEWS members, who were deemed “organizers,” were arrested.

Despite the administration’s opposition to our coalition’s efforts to educate and agitate around issues of war and occupation, the group continued to rally, leaflet, and meet regularly. On March 20, the day after the war began, we marched through busy hallways and into classes, disrupting business as usual and asking students to join us in a vigil and die-in. Later in the day York students joined thousands of other Toronto students in a coordinated shut down of one of the busiest intersections in the city. It was a powerful display of student resistance and collective power.

LOOKING AHEAD

For the coming year, we hope to build on these actions, while strengthening the group in various ways. NEWS was successful because it was a grassroots coalition organized by students outside of student government, and was organic in its approach to organizing. All decisions on direction, actions, strategy or tactics were made by the entire coalition in our weekly meetings. Comprised of students from a variety of backgrounds and faculties, NEWS was a broad and inclusive coalition that aimed to build bridges and solidarity between different struggles, groups and organizations. Each action seemed to build on the last, from rallies and marches, to impromptu occupations, to a full on strike.

As we gained experience, our politics evolved. York students confronted issues head-on, and refused to back down when met with strong opposition from the school administration, but also from far right-wing groups such as the Canadian Alliance and the Young Zionist Partnership. Though we have been accused, incorrectly, of committing violent acts against political opponents, and have been continuously painted unjustly and viciously in the media as a group of caustic anti-Semites and reactionaries for supporting the Intifada and for opposing war, we are confident in our abilities to create change on campus and beyond.