Student activism has existed for as long as students have. Many receive their first real political education arriving at university, with the political atmospheres of university campuses providing an ideal backdrop for co-ordinated activism to take place. Edinburgh itself has a rich history of this, with students marching at the United States embassy in 1965 to protest the Vietnam War. Despite this, student activism is often dismissed by older generations as futile or naïve. Is this really the case? Or are students capable of creating genuine change in the world?
I spoke with a member of the Edinburgh University Justice for Palestine Society (EUJPS), to find out more about the effectiveness of student activism. EUJPS is a student activist organisation dedicated to Palestinian liberation and severing the University of Edinburgh’s financial ties to the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
This student emphasised the need for student activism in Edinburgh, given the university’s complicity in Israeli state violence. EUJPS has had its voice heard on campus through peaceful direct action, such as blocking entrances to Old College and staging sit-ins in lecture theatres.
These kinds of direct student action have had a tangible impact in Edinburgh, with the Responsible Investment Advisory Group (RIAG) being set up to monitor the university’s investments with regards to “human rights and armaments” due to pressure from activist groups such as EUJPS. Despite this, the student claims there has “not been as much change as we deserve.” Additionally, the RIAG has acted as a barrier to further change; when EUJPS pushes for greater progress, they are told to wait for the results of the RIAG – a process that won’t be completed until 2027.
While EUJPS is eager to establish conversations with the university, they have been cut off from communication for over two years. Protests have also been silenced and shut down by campus security. In the student’s words, the university is “having none of it.” Are students being taken seriously enough?
The question of whether students have a responsibility to support movements on campus is complex. Many students care about issues such as student housing, feminism, and Palestinian liberation, but simply don’t have the time or energy to take part in activism. The student acknowledged that being part of activism can feel demanding, understanding why the majority of students do not take part in it. Conversely, it is hard to turn a blind eye to how deeply entangled the university is with the state of Israel.
The student stressed that, while EUJPS’ position is not one of moralising, “there is an overall responsibility” for students to try to make a difference. EUJPS aims to be an accessible organisation, with different forms of activism for students to take part in other than direct action, such as fundraising and spreading awareness. The three pillars of EUJPS are pressure, political education, and allyship of Palestinians. Each pillar takes equal precedent; all forms of activism are equally important.
Another student I spoke to, a member of the Socialist Worker’s Party, believes that being a student and having the time to take part in activism is a privilege. “Students have power,” they said. “I don’t want to wait to make a difference.”
This student commented that a lack of confidence is the main barrier preventing people from getting involved in activist movements; they recounted a story of a friend being passionate about Scottish independence but saying that it “wasn’t their place” to get involved in campaigning for it.
Students as a whole hold strong beliefs and are eager to have political discussions, but this doesn’t translate to activism for most. This student claimed that societies aren’t doing enough to bridge this gap, and that a more political culture needs to be developed at the university: “We need a culture of going out and doing things.”
It seems that there are two sides to the coin of student activism. While it can be a powerful tool in creating change, students may be reluctant to get involved, and its effectiveness is not guaranteed. Certainly, at the University of Edinburgh, students have not yet seen the change they are campaigning for. However, the student I spoke with from EUJPS still holds out hope: “We’re doing all we can do… it has to lead somewhere eventually.”
Image by Will Lander for The Student.
