In a city
enriched in history, and glistening unexpectedly in sunlight, it isn’t too
clichéd to suggest that the scene in Edinburgh since the Scottish ‘heat wave’
hit town over the past week is postcard-esque. A short stroll from the packed
pavements of Princes St and you arrive at one of the capital’s most elusive and
sought after destinations, the University of Edinburgh. With past alumni
including David Hume, Charles Darwin, and Chrystal MacMillan, and with a
ranking of 27th in the world, it is a prestigious symbol of Scottish
academia. However, behind the statistics
and sunshine, there is a very dark presence growing on campus; the censorship
of Communist and pro Palestinian politics.
With the
lowest percentage of working class students at any Scottish University,
classism has emerged to poison the University. Whilst smirks and crude remarks
are plentiful, one thing most certainly vacant was a radical left political
force, to represent the vulnerable, oppressed minorities who in a city and
university engulfed with elitist arrogance, lack a voice to represent them.
Following a
split from the moderate and inactive Marxist Society, Edinburgh University Communist Society formed in September 2016.
After forming ‘unofficially’ they applied to join the student association,
Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA). Whilst other societies
quickly received confirmation of their affiliation to EUSA, the Communist
Society were left waiting. And waiting. And waiting. Having grown tired of the
blatant bias and ignorance shown by EUSA, the Communist Society again applied,
this time in November 2016. Yet just like their first attempt at affiliation,
EUSA did not even show the courtesy to acknowledge the application.
Whilst right
wing societies flourished with the help of EUSA, the Communist Society was left
in the lurch. That said, they did not give up, holding regular meetings, and
events. One of the few societies to hold a committee where there is a 50:50
gender split of roles, and where roles must be held by individuals from the
LGBT, and black and E.M communities, they were quickly pinpointed as a threat
to the status quo of the white middle class, and most tellingly, right wing
English university.
Other societies
to feel the wrath of right wing scrutiny include Students for Justice in
Palestine (SJP), who successfully motioned the union to adopt BDS in March
2016. However, external pressure from the Israeli Embassy saw this democratic
process overturned, highlighting the role external Zionist bodies have in
student politics.
A Christmas
food bank was held by the society to generate much needed items for Edinburgh’s
most vulnerable, yet the reception from fellow students was pitiful. Society
members were taunted, laughed at, and the food bank was scoffed at by the
majority of passers-by. Once again the Communists had the last laugh, as they
brought some temporary joy to the working class of Connolly’s city.
Israeli
Apartheid Week was to the Society a fantastic chance to give a platform for the
Palestinian people, in an environment where they were neglected irrevocably.
Following hundreds of pounds invested to organise the event, we were told hours
before our primary lecture that we could not hold it on University grounds. Yet
for months previous, we had held numerous activities on campus. From a night
dedicated to Fidel Castro, to weekly reading groups, the Communists quickly established
the Society as one of the most active and fulfilling in George Square. So why
were we not given permission to host Apartheid Week? Simply because being Pro
Palestine at this University is a no go. Any declaration of support for the
Palestinians treated like vermin by Israel will see one tarnished with claims
of anti-Semitism. Anybody who is bold enough to accuse Israel of what it is, an
Apartheid State, will be hounded in the student circles.
We were told
IAW had been cancelled because we weren’t registered with (Edinburgh University
Students Association) EUSA, yet as explained- this wasn’t an issue for activities
which weren’t focused on Palestine.
-
- Why
were we twice ignored in their application to affiliate with EUSA?
-
Why
did the Israeli Engagement Society and its members boast of shutting the event
down with the help ‘from above’ on social media?
Following the
commencement of a nationwide hunger strike of Palestinian prisoners last month,
members of the Committee decided to also embark on a hunger strike for two
reasons:
1.
To
show solidarity with the brave Comrades of all Palestinian factions striking in
Israeli jails
2.
To
protest university’s complicity in maintaining the Apartheid regime, and to
pressurise them into adopting BDS.
Our
hunger strike lasted a week, before EUSA agreed to meet us. Yet in our brief exchange
with them, they showed nothing but distaste and disrespect towards us, going as
far as reporting our President to his head of school. By raising over £500 for
Palestinian prisoners, and highlighting university’s role in the genocide of
natives, we once again generated success for the cause, and will begin a second
hunger strike in the coming days.
The
far left and pro Palestinians are simply not tolerated on UK campuses. Yet
you cannot cancel ideas. The more the university tries to weaken the far left
movement, the stronger it becomes.
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