Fighting for socialist ideas on the campus

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Important events this month: SOCIALIST ACTION MARCH 1988

Cincinnati

Students for Socialist Action at the University of Cincinnati have triggered off an extensive discussion on socialism and free speech this semester.

On Feb. 1, the campus paper, The News Record, published a long interview with Students for Socialist Action activists Bill O'Kain and Margaret Kelly on the meaning of Gorbachev's reforms in the Soviet On Feb. 10, a letter appeared in the campus paper written by a student who objected to The News Record providing a forum for socialist ideas. The letter was written in a vicious manner, equating "the philosophy of Students for Socialist Action" with "the philosophy of Hitler, Stalin, Mao, and Pol Pot."

Margaret Kelly responded with a letter defending socialist ideas and the right to free speech on campus. Other students began sending in letters defending the right of socialists to present their ideas to UC students.

One concerned student wrote, "Members of Socialist Action are not mini-Stalinists, Detroit Socialist Action "Nicaragua, the Arias Peace Plan, and the U.S. Elections." Speaker:

Carl Finamore. Tues., March 22, Wayne State University. (Time and place to be announced).

Grand Rapids Socialist Action "Nicaragua, the Arias Peace Plan, and the U.S. Elections." Speaker:

Carl Finamore. Sat., March 19. Public Library, Zonta Room. 2 p.m.

New York City "Rally to Free Moses Mayekiso."

Speakers: Representatives UAW, COSATU. Fri., March 25, 7 p.m., District 65 UAW, Sponsored by Labor Committee Against Apartheid. nor are they conspiring for a dictatorship. They are dissatisfied with the abuses and excesses of modern society, and would like to see a more humane political and economic stucture in society."

The debate in The News Record has touched on many issues which affect students' access to new ideas and points of view. It also helped to build two Students for Socialist Action events on the campus during the last week of February.

On Feb. 23, Students for Socialist Action sponsored a film showing on Malcolm X. The event was endorsed as part of the campus's official Black History Month program and attracted 40 students.

On Feb. 25, Students for Socialist Action held a forum titled "Free Speech at the Universiy of Cincinnati." Rick Mitts spoke for Socialist Action and an A.C.L.U. speaker spoke on the issue of student rights.

Some of the most politically • active students on campus were in the audience, and The News Record carried a front-page article on the forum the following day. Excerpts from this forum will appear in upcoming issues of Socialist Action. -MARGARET KELLY San Francisco Socialist Action "Revolt in Palestine." Speakers: Ralph Schoenman, author "Hidden History of Zionism," and a representative of the Palestine Solidarity Committee. Fri., Marct 18, 8 p.m., 3435 Army St., Rm. 308. For more information, call (415) 821-0458.

Santa Barbara Eighty-five people attending a Feb. 8 Students for Socialist Action forum at the University of California campus here heard activist Ralph Schoenman describe the current revolt in Palestine and detail the hidden history of Zionism. A lively question and answer period followed.

Schoenman and Students for Socialist Action urged the formation of a committee calling for an end to all aid to Israel. Half the audience signed up in support.

Ralph Schoenman's recently published pamphlet "The Hidden History of Zionism" sold out, and many ordered copies.

One woman in the audience identified herself as a Palestinian Jew who had left Palestine after the Israeli state was decreed. She joined in the applause upon the announcement of a committee to end aid to Israel.

A small group of Zionists, about five, also attended the meeting and attempted to shout down the speaker from the floor. The audience was unresponsive to these tactics, and the Zionists were asked to refrain from breaking up the meeting.

The Feb. 11 issue of the campus paper, Daily Nexus, however, inflated the Zionists' impact at the meeting. A front-page article claimed that the Zionists were asked to leave and also failed to report key aspects of Schoenman's lecture.

Students for Socialist Action responded immediately with a contribution to the Daily Nexus Opinion page. The article, which was published in the Feb. 18 issue, clarified the role of the Zionists at the meeting and accurately reported the contents of Schoenman's lecture.

The Opinion-page article won more support for Students for Socialist Action. The following day, Ralph Schoenman was praised on the campus by U.C. students who admired his defense of the Palestinian struggle and wanted information on Students for Socialist Action.

Students for Socialist Action at U.C.S.B. is encouraged by the response to our first event. We will continue to discuss revolutionary struggles for justice in future forums. -BRAD WIEDMAIER Twin Cities Socialist Action has developed a real presence on Macalester College campus in St. Paul, Minn. Over the past few months, socialist classes and forums have attracted large audiences of students interested in building a new society.

Forums on Contragate and the stock market crash, and classes on Marxist economics featuring Socialist Action speakers have been some of the most successful events on the entire campus. Since last November, 80 students have signed up for more socialist classes and activities.

Socialist Action kicked off the spring semester on Feb. 10 with a forum titled "Prospects for Socialism in America" featuring Adam Wood. Thirty students attended. Eighteen students indicated they were interested in a socialist discussion group on the campus. The Mac Weekly covered the event with a good article in its Feb. 12 issue.

Socialist Action members have met with students interested in continuing classes and events and have planned activities to win official recognition for a socialist discussion group on the campus.

A meeting planned for early March will begin planning upcoming events on the campus.— ADAM WOOD ACTION Closing date: Feb. 28, 1988 Editor: ALAN BENJAMIN Asst. Editors: MICHAEL SCHREIBER Staff: Paul Colvin, May May Gong, David Kirschner, Hayden Perry, Kwame M.A.

Somburu, Sylvia Weinstein.

Business Manager: DON MAHONEY Socialist Action (ISSN 0747-4237) is published monthly for $6 per year by Socialist Action Publishing Association, 3435 Army St., No. 308, San Francisco, CA 94110.

Second-class postage is paid at San Francisco, Calif.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Socialist Action, 3435 Army St., No. 308, San Francisco, CA 94110.

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Signed articles do not necessarily represent the views of Socialist Action. These are expressed in editorials.

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