University campuses have always been fertile ground for the expression of political ideas and action, from the Paris university occupations in 1968 that pre-figured a general workers revolt, to last year’s uprising in Greece where campuses were used as a base to plan strategies, encourage involvement and mobilise the population against state repression. In the UK students played an active part in the anti-war movement including the recent nationwide campus sit-ins in response to the attacks on Gaza, this coupled with the current government’s assault on the education system in the form of tuition fees, indicates an upsurge in the radicalisation of students, with anarchist ideas being visibly expressed through student groups. We take a look at the more high profile of those groups in the hope they encourage others in universities and colleges around the country to play a more active role in anarchist politics.

• Founded at this year’s Anarchist Movement Conference Autonomous Students Network is a national network of radical anti-authoritarian and anti-capitalist groups and individuals in UK universities and colleges who organise and build solidarity and grassroots power across campuses, communities and workplaces. So far the ASN have a presence in Manchester, SOAS, Goldsmiths, UEL, Birkbeck, Salford, Sussex, Birmingham, Cambridge, Coventry, Queen Mary, Sheffield, Warwick, UCL, and London College of Arts. Groups involve themselves in campaigns on and off campus, on issues such as environmental, social justice, workplace organising, anti-militarism and community activism. The network operates to help all these groups keep in touch and organise more effectively at a wider level.

• Probably the most visible and active of the student anarchist groups Autonomy and Solidarity is based at Goldsmith’s College, south London. They were part of the occupation of Deptford Town Hall (in support of Palestinian scholarships) that ushered in new kind of student politics at Goldsmiths – collective action and direct democracy. They also organised a Libertarian bloc on National Demonstration for Free Education and were active in their support of Mitie cleaners struggle in the City of London.

• Based at the University of Warwick, Coventry Warwick Anarchist Collective was one of the supporting groups of the Anarchist Movement Conference earlier this year. Reasons behind setting up the group were to bring together people with similar views to talk and arrange actions nationally and locally and increase awareness of anarchism at the university. Activities so far include supporting anti-militarism – Faslane, Dsei anti-arms trade, part of the anti-Eon campaign and occupations in support for Gaza.

• Queen Mary Autonomous Group is based at Queen Mary University, in London’s East End. Their goal is to spread anarchist ideas and activities amongst students, also bring staff and students together, supporting each other in struggle, with activities based around an Independent newssheet, anti-tuition fees campaign, supporting local community and workplace struggles, while promoting anarchism and direct action as the solution to the world’s problems and generating support for the anarchist movement

Contact details for student anarchist groups:

Anarchist Students Network – http://www.autonomous-students.net/

Autonomy and Solidarity – http://autonomyandsolidarity.blogspot.com/

Warwick Anarchist Collective – email: chris_rossdale@hotmail.com

Queen Mary Autonomous Group – http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=57189612775

Edinburgh University Anarchist Society – http://euas.noflag.org.uk/

University of East London Autonomists – email: uelautonomists@gmail.com