the Federation So far, February, attracted rank-and-file project.
against the cuts ALIC Socialist NUT 8pm beasice ane Une unIon candidates once their COnal c MENE what is, above Clout by action diversions as JACK WILLIAMSON retum from of the Re of expenditure of been proTeachers mass movement There were two types of 'unity" offered at last week's conference of the National Union of Students. One was presented by the historic compromise of the Communist of Conservative sudenis. the omner was oresented by the Socialist Students Alliance, spectacular support trom student mitants.
that this Danger. be attended.
That unity was amongst those determined to resist the rightward drift of the executive and to fight for alternative socialist policies in The Broad Left/Tory alliance wing was most dramatically expressed in Party. the elections when FCS delegates switched their votes to Broad Left own nac been eliminated. In all the votes for executive positions it was the FCS votes which allowed Broad Leit candidates to get in. Bu Tories exacted a high price for their cooperation. On issue aite issue the Broad Left watered down posts, their already tame policies in order to maintain their unity with the On grant increases: The newly NOISS elected Broad Left President, Sue Slipman, welcomed the 15.5 per cent increase as recognition by the Government of the need for student grants to keep pace with inflation. That the increase does not even cover the rise in the cost of living sance tne ast rise ler aione cover the expected rise in the coming vear, evaded Slipman's attention On overseas students and tuition fees: The Broad Left offered a joint resolution with the Tories which merely called for no increase in fees for self-financing students and for universities to set up hard ship funds to assist those students unable to cover the COSE increase. The Broad Left claimed could 'unite students. One section of students who thought little of this 'unity were many delegates from technical and further education colleges who viewed this cynical sell-out of their interests with mounting On Ireland: An amendment to the emergencv resolution on reale which called for NUS support for ine rree speeen on reland cam paign, and for an end to military recruitment and research in col leges was voted down by the Broad It was noticeable that they refused to talk to the motion, leaving that to a right wing delegate. At the fringe meeting on Ireland - which featured Bernadette McAliskey and Steve MacBride from the Peace People — the Broad Left were not to seen among 350 who The performance of the Socialist Student Alliance was in sharp contrast to this sorry procession of wheeling, dealing and capitulation. 150 delegates at the conference Joined ine soa, incluaing severa members of NOISS, student •Socialist Worker . The SSA gained two places in the National Executive. with the election of Colin Talbot, an IMG member from Manchester. and • Lewis Davis, a non-aligned socialist from Middlesborough. A member of the National Organisation SSA of IS students, the SWP student group, was also elected onto the Executive. In six of the top eight vote •TOT SSA exceeded that of NOISS In ine elections or many posts the combined vote for the SA and THal thi Broad Left. Sadly the leadership of NOISS seemed incapable of recogLEWIS DAVIES nising the potential which a greater unity between NOISS and the SSA provides.
At a meeting organised by the SSA, Liam Duffy, NOISS membe from Lancaster, stated the reason NoIss would not join the SSA was that the SSA had no class perspective. This was further jus tified by Duffy saying that NOISS unlike SSA was Tormec on m need to build 'the revolutionary party.
While this type of sniping from the sidelines clearly damages the prospect for left socialist unity, it seems unlikely to hinder the further support the SSA will receive student militants. Hugh Lanning, SSA presidential candidate, said at the first SSA open meeting that he believed the norf etence ve cd bese on Nus not for collapse services, but the formation of the The national conference of the alliance planned for 31 April, and the campaigns it organises in the summer will be the test of Lan ning's predictions. What can be said from last week's conference is there is no reason why Lanning should be proved wrong PAUL BROOKE