Our campaign launch gained millions of views and received tons of right-wing backlash.
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The question remained: would this newfound (but niche) online fame have any echo on campus? This was quickly answered: on the next stall a group of students recognised me as “Alice from the communist video”!
Campaigning developed me the most through the many interviews I gave. The range of attitudes – from sympathy to hostility – varied massively, and frequently took me by surprise.
The host of the Central Club podcast let me explain all of my points – but I had to deflect questions such as “was Marx a satanist?” and “isn’t Keir Starmer a socialist?”, all whilst pushing forward our fundamental ideas.
The most dramatic interview came from the student radio. I was cut off countless times. But I learnt to push back.
This training was particularly useful against the Student Union, who did their utmost to keep the election apolitical. Their joke of a hustings was particularly frustrating. But we prepared comrades to film my responses, as we knew my main audience wouldn’t be in the room.
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The other candidates added to this pressure: I was faced with lies and complaints filed against me. Eventually they all signed a statement against our campaign!
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Despite all this, we achieved our goal to politicise the election. Students tell me that everyone was talking enthusiastically about the communists’ campaign.
We have planted our flag at Cardiff University, laying the basis to become the leading force in future struggles!
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Be the communist on campus!
Roo Humble, Cardiff
The RCP has given me the confidence to talk about the ideas of Marxism to everyone I know, including my politics course.
This term, I’ve given two lecture shout-outs to a room of over 160 people, making sure they know the communists are on campus, and we’re a fighting force!
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One comrade who was won over from my shout-out was soon preparing to give their own, to explain our campaign demands, and why people should vote for Alice and get organised!
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In seminars, I talk to anyone who is open to discussion. Once I began a conversation with two people who viewed communism as “repressive and authoritarian”, by speaking about how we’re running a candidate in the SU election campaign on a communist platform, and our demands.
We spent the rest of the seminar discussing the communist position on religion, equality, women’s oppression, and democracy. Although they weren’t entirely won over yet, they were certainly more open to communism by the end.
In order to overthrow capitalism, we need more organisers. Young people are especially radical and want to talk about politics!
So be the communist on campus, and take every opportunity to talk to people about communism!
