Students, Opinions and Politics

 

Is the age of the political student over?

Eyes flicked around the room, glancing smiles received. Flirtations with possible outcomes sent butterflies racing through stomachs. It was over far too quickly; the eyes and smiles dropped quicker than the papers that floated to the ground. The October General Meeting had to be cancelled because the 300 students (quorum) required for anything to be done didn’t turn out to vote on issues that directly affected them. The air that was heavy with a bubble of hope was punctured by the scuffing of heels and sighs, with bitter nouns; "Apathetic", "Uninformed", "Incompetent" finally bursting the sugary atmosphere.

Whiz a month down the line and the General Meeting would be unrecognisable; over 1000 students jostling for space sweeping across the entire first floor of the SU building, with others being turned away at the door.

What created this radical change? To procrastinate on the matter would be pointless; quite simply it was the ongoing Palestine–Israel debate that has divided elements of The University of Manchester’s student body over the past few years. This has been most evident since a motion was pasted in March twinning The University of Manchester Students’ Union with the Students’ Union of Palestinian University Al-Najah. The amendments proposed to the twinning motion last week created the biggest turn out for a General Meeting since October 2001.

After three hours of rhetoric, a much amended version of the original motion was passed. There were five motions left on the agenda including proactive student based initiatives on ‘Free Education’ (top up fees and making sure future students don’t pay more) and ‘Environmental Sustainability’ (i.e. a way to make the university accountable for its green policy, better recycling etc). Of the 1,019 who voted on the Al-Najah amendments, only 160 stayed to vote on these ‘closer to home’ matters.

It was as if the October General Meeting was being replayed. One student who wished to remain anonymous said, “Those voting on the Palestinian twinning had their minds made up before coming, there was no need for the same personalities to get on their soapbox again. It’s great that they are passionate about their cause, but they are creating a feeling amongst the majority of students that activism isn’t about making differences to their university. The Students’ Union should be facilitating us to make real changes in student life here, not make ideological statements on our behalf. ”

 

Matt, a first year Politics, Philosophy and Economics student, has a strong opinion about student politics. “There does appear to be a tendency towards idealist views, this pandering to the radical student stereotype alienates anyone with a partial interest in student politics.” It seems many students share a similar viewpoint. “Students care more about the everyday issues they encounter than whether the Union does or does not have a plaque in its foyer,” argues Sinead.

 

Other Universities seem to struggle with this as well. An article of a motion in the next Leeds Students’ Union meeting is “A turnout of 6.2% [their average voting turnout] is too low to be considered a successful barometer of the general opinion of Union membership.” UMSU got excited this week because under extraordinary circumstances there was a turn out of 3.5%. This higher turnout seen at Leeds may be down to the fact that students can vote over a 2 day period, either at polling booths or online. To implement this in UMSU would require a constitutional change, needing 3,000 students to vote. This would solve the issue of turning students away if a General Meeting is full and has the potential to increase voting numbers and awareness of how students can impact policy, particularly on local issues.

 

However, it is still extremely important for student groups to raise awareness of world issues; revolutions have come from the concern and eagerness of students to make a difference and challenge injustices. Recently students in Burma were willing to stand up with the monks against a violent oppressive regime; across the channel they seem to live in the Champs Elysees and change the slogan on their placards when the next strike comes along; in the UK there are students out on the Anti War/Climate Change/Workers Rights marches.

 

Just not as many as there used to be. Many hark back to the ‘Golden Days’ of political activism; as one lecturer commented "If this was the 60's half of you wouldn't be in this lecture you would be out protesting on campus about the next big issue.” Have we run out of big issues? Or is there something about radical political activism which is a turn off to the majority of students?

 

The biggest demonstration in British history was against the invasion of Iraq in 2003 that saw 750,000 people on the streets of London, on top of countless demonstrations across the world. Perhaps the fact that such actions did not change a smidgen of policy has left people feeling disillusioned. Furthermore Emma Goldman’s much cited “If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal” is met more often with disgruntled nods and chortles than passionate refutes. 

 

There are now many students who have very little interest in politics. “I’m just...apathetic about it. There are better things to waste time on!” says Ruben, a Japanese Studies student. This in mind, is it best students throw in the towel, get their heads down and get a decent degree in return for £15,000 of debt? This is precisely what seems to be happening in Manchester when less than 1% turn out to a General Meeting (October 2007) and less than 9% vote in a Union election (2007).

 

However, throw certain words into conversation at the pub and the flow of opinions will be running faster than the cheap beer down your throat; ‘Bush’, ‘God’, ‘Feminism’, ‘Tuition Fees’, ‘Climate change’. Conflicting opinions appear out of the pint glass that show the majority of students are very far from aphetic on a massive range issues. 

 

Across the country, there has been a move away from joining political parties, but at the same time a massive increase in the numbers involved with individual pressure groups such as Friends of the Earth, Shelter, Countryside Alliance and the British Medical Association. In UMSU, there are an overwhelming number of societies that seek to campaign and raise awareness. There are fourteen societies on the UMSU website which are classed under campaigning, plus many others which facilitate open debate on many issues.

 

Victoria, an Aerospace Engineering student, says “I actively keep myself up to date with current affairs and politics, and have opinions about certain issues, but I don't take part in protests or join political groups.” It seems this is the mood amongst many students who struggle with the status quo concept that a student active in politics must become one with placards and chants.

 

Some may class Victoria as politically apathetic, as she appears not to be actively expressing her opinions. However, Victoria shops at Lidl as she doesn’t agree with Tesco’s aggressive marketing; she chooses to buy Fair Trade chocolate as she has heard about child trafficking in the cocoa industry; she votes in elections and has a strong, informed opinion on US foreign policy. Can this still be classed as political apathy? Why are the majority of students failing to engage in matters that impact them directly and vote in a General Meeting?

 

John, who is in the last year of a History degree, views the Union as “largely irrelevant, but it has a bar and four live venues.” A standard student interested in (heaven forbid) beer and music response. However, he goes on; “I'm not a political activist but I read the papers, watch the news, have my own opinions and sadly get relatively excited about politics.”

 

Knowing where to find cheap drinks and catch good gigs is imperative to many students. On the other hand, University is a chance to think and learn from others, it’s what students pay to do; with this comes the chance to act. The Debating Union’s slogan is “I have never learnt anything from any man who agreed with me” (Dudley Malone). Once discussion becomes more than point scoring and about gaining knowledge from another’s opinion and experiences, it can facilitate an extraordinary fusing of views that can make for positive change.

 

This is what policy makers understand and politicians seem to forget about. Plato’s observation, “Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber” is, on the majority of occasions, met with smug sniggers by those who are far too sensible to get engaged with the process. However, without leaders, policy would not get very far; they are needed to drive forward and facilitate ideas.

 

Student opinion is far from dead, but perhaps the inclination to act upon our opinions is. As students we have the chance to freely discuss views and become informed about the world. This is often lost in later life; pressures of a job, raising a family and even your boss’ opinion may mean tongues are curbed or lose their passion. A diverse University such as Manchester provides students with a fantastic concoction of colourful views that both repel and unite, providing students with a unique chance to share ideas, discuss them and (valuably) disagree. Most importantly though, students with opinions can create and vote on ideas which will have lasting effect.