Revolutionary Students Union

Fidel: The Untold Story

2012-02-07T12:15:00.001-08:00

Fidel Castro. In the U.S. the name is often synonymous with dictatorship and antiquated Cold War politics, but throughout much of the world the name has very different connotations. The Cuban Revolution was the first successful socialist revolution in the western hemisphere. In open defiance of U.S. business interests and the Monroe Doctrine, Cuba managed to create a nation free from imperialism and the grinding poverty that characterizes many countries in the so called developing world. As such, Fidel and the Cuban Revolution have served as an inspiration to millions across Latin America and the world.

Among his admirers and comrades are Nelson Mandela, Mumia Abu Jamal, Harry Belafonte, Hugo Chavez, Evo Morales and many of the oppressed peoples of the world struggling against exploitation.

US propaganda, aimed at returning Cuba to the status of a puppet state, characterizes Cuba as an impoverished dictatorship, ignoring Cuba's massive achievements in grass roots democracy, ecological sustainability, international solidarity and quality of life for its citizens.
Despite a malicious embargo against their country Fidel and the Cuban people have managed to lead Cuba from the poverty and humiliation of pre-revolutionary times to a country with a lower infant mortality rate and higher life expectancy than even the United States, a country with the highest primary and secondary school enrollment in all of Latin America (despite the fact that only half of the children of pre-revolutionary Cuba were able to attend school at all), a country which has been designated by the World Wildlife Fund as the only nation in the world with sustainable development (i.e. able to maintain a low carbon footprint while still providing for a high standard of living).
Fidel: The Untold Story is a documentary that cuts through the propaganda to give us an honest portrait of Fidel Casto. To learn more about the man, his life, and the achievements of the Cuban Revolution come to the RSU meeting this Thursday, February 7th, at 8pm in the UVU Library room LI505 for a free documentary showing and discussion.
As per usual, the RSU will also be hearing reports from committees and covering club business.
[The above statements do not necessarily reflect the views of the Revolutionary Students Union as a whole. The RSU is non-tendency but firmly anti-capitalist.]

This Week: Girl Child Empowerment in Zimbabwe

2012-01-31T09:42:00.000-08:00

Due to continual power struggles,

Zimbabwe

presents a particularly volatile context for girls. In addition to facing issues such as the widespread transmission HIV/AIDS, rampant poverty, and the constant threat of hunger, girls face additional discrimination based upon their gender. Such gender-specific abuses include domestic violence, the domestic exploitation of their labor, rape, circumstantially forced prostitution, sex trafficking, forced marriages, genital mutilation, and virginity testing in addition to a general lack of opportunity and resources when compared to boys. Girl Child Network Zimbabwe (GCNZ) is an organization that was established by Zimbabwean child rights activist Betty Makoni in order to organize girls to defend their rights and facilitate their individual and collective empowerment. This presentation will go over the history of Zimbabwe and explain how the conditions in the region have been continually exacerbated by those seeking power at the expense of those most excluded from the system, namely girls, and what GCNZ is doing to empower girls to demand change.

At this week's RSU meeting we will be receiving a lecture from Jessica Burnham on Girl Child Empowerment in Zimbabwe. In addition we will also be hearing reports from committees, covering club business and discussing our action this Saturday against the NDAA and EEA. We will be meeting on Thursday, February 2nd at 8pm in UVU room SC213A.

Protest Against the NDAA and EEA Feb 4

2012-01-29T23:44:00.000-08:00

The Revolutionary Students Union in conjunction with Occupy Provo is taking a stand against the ongoing assault on our civil liberties! This Saturday, February 4, at noon we will be converging on the Provo Courthouse (Center and University Ave) and marching to the Federal Building (90 west 100 north) to protest the National Defense Authorization Act and the Enemy Expatriation Act.
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011, signed into law by president Barack Obama on December 31, 2011, is an assault on the civil liberties of all Americans and should be treated accordingly.
The most terrifying provisions are located within sub-section 1021 of Title X, Subtitle D, entitled “Counter-Terrorism." Provision 1021 affirms the president's authority to detain without trial, via the armed services, any person whether a U.S. citizen or otherwise. Section 1245 is also very worrisome as it places sanctions upon the Central Bank of Iran which effectively block Iranian oil exports to countries that do business with the United States. Pushing us one step closer to war with Iran.
The Enemy Expatriation Act (H.R. 3166) which is being sponsored by Congressmen Joe Lieberman and Charles Dent, allows the U.S. government to take away the citizenship of any American they identify as a
threat. Unbelievably, as this act stands now, it would allow the U.S. government to expatriate citizens without even bringing them before a court of law.

The Prison Industrial Complex

2012-01-25T11:08:00.001-08:00

The United States incarcerates more people than any other country in the world. With just 5% of the world's population, the United States contains one quarter of the entire world's inmates. How can it be that in the "land of the free", we see fit to imprison such a large portion of our population? The short answer is that under capitalism the only freedom that really matters is the freedom to make a profit.

The Prison Industrial Complex is the name given to a system in which prison ownership and management are increasingly being transferred to the private sector. In the same way that the privatization of the war industry has made the invasion of other countries an extremely profitable endeavour the privatization of prisons has had a similar effect on the penal system. The massive shift toward deregulation and privatization since the Reagan era has lead to an explosion in the United States' prison population. As per usual the federal government acted as a tool for corporate interests and enacted various legislation leading to increased convictions and longer sentences for non-violent offenses, such as drug possession.

Many of the draconian measures being taken by certain states against undocumented workers can be directly attributed to the influence of corportations with interests in the prison industrial complex. In a recent article in the Guardian, Alex Cabellero pointed out that:

[Alabam's]HB 56, a de facto criminalisation of migration, replaces any sensible immigration policy with the favorite solution these days: let’s put them behind bars– and we might as well make a profit out of it.

Not only will this law supply fresh inmates to private detention centers in the state – like the one operated in Decatur by LCS correctional corporation – but it will also feed an already bloated national private prison system controlled by two major corporations, CCA (Corrections Corporation of America) and the GEO group, which have a combined profit of more than $5bn a year. CCA, for example, runs the largest facility in the nation in neighboring Georgia and may potentially take a good portion of the detainees in Alabama. Charging $200 a night, this is an opportunity they’ll jump at.

Please join the Utah Valley University chapter of the Revolutionary Students Union this Thursday, January 26 at 8pm in room SC206a for a lecture by Victor Puertas on this topic and to learn how to fight back against the Prison Industrial Complex.
Make sure to check out the National Prison Divestment Campaign as well.

The Crisis of Capitalism: the Housing Market

2012-01-16T13:06:00.000-08:00

Pundits and commentators on both the right and left have been quick to find culprits for the economic meltdown; from greedy banks to homeowners living beyond their means. More than a century ago, however, Karl Marx made it clear that economic crises are part of the normal functioning of the capitalist system. This Thursday January, 19th at 8pm at UVU in room LI505 Brett Barrett and Steven Broadbent will be giving a lecture on Marx's theory of economic crises and its relevance to the current recession.
See you there!

Capitalism, Socialism and Revolution

2012-01-10T12:21:00.000-08:00

Capitalism: though almost everyone has heard the word not everyone understands what makes this system unique or how it effects our everyday lives. While the Republican Presidential candidates are busy singing the praises of "free enterprise" and the "free market" the rest of the country suffers from massive unemployment and stagnating wages. Though many would have us believe that this is a minor setback in the otherwise steady progression of capitalist society, socialists have known for centuries that this is part of the normal functioning of capitalism. Despite the myths we are told about hard work and free enterprise, the actual history of capitalism paints a very different picture, one born out of conquest and slavery and perpetuated by the impoverishment of workers at home and abroad. One of the most prominent alternatives to this system is Socialism, commonly understood as a political and economic system owned and controlled by the workers.
At this week's RSU meeting we will be having a lecture that will clarify what capitalism is, what socialism is and how to achieve it, namely through revolution. This will be a good introductory level lecture for those who are not yet familiar with these concepts. It will also be a good opportunity for those that are familiar to discuss these issues in depth.
We will be meeting at UVU in room SC213A on Thursday, January 12th, at 8:00pm.
We will also be discussing upcoming events, hearing reports from committees and discussing club business. The Revolutionary Students Union is planning on having a very active semester of organizing and educating. We are excited to kick off a brand new year. Join us in helping to continue the fight for justice and equality on campus and in the community!
See you there!

RSU Meeting 1/5/2012

2012-01-03T10:25:00.000-08:00

At this week's RSU meeting we will be discussing and planning our strategy for the semester, including club rush as well as delegating important tasks going forward. Make sure you attend. This will be an important meeting.
The UVU Library is closing at 5pm this week so instead we will be meeting at Joshua West's house at 8pm on Thursday. His address is 145 E. 1000 S. in Orem in the basement apartment. Call Josh at 801-310-9623 if you need directions.

The Revolutionary Women of the Paris Commune 12/8/2011

2011-12-07T09:25:00.000-08:00

At this week's meeting Steven Broadbent will be giving a lecture on women and the Paris Commune. The Paris Commune occurred in 1871 and was a watershed moment in the history of workers' liberation when workers rose up and assumed control of the city. Once in control the workers of Paris created a new system of governance based on direct democracy, gave vacant factories to workers' associations, canceled debts, and outlawed evictions due to a person's inability to pay rent. As in all genuine worker's movements women played an essential role in the creation and defense of the Commune. The video below is an excerpt from Peter Watkin's film La Commune which reenacts the events which transpired there.
Come this Thursday at 8pm in the UVU library LI502 to learn, discuss, socialize and organize!

The Internationale: The Song and its History

2011-11-29T15:45:00.000-08:00

Very soon after it was first penned and set to music The Internationale became an anthem for the global anti-capitalist movement. It has been sung everywhere from anarchist collectives in Spain and Greece to guerrilla armies in the jungles of southeast Asia and Latin America, to Union meetings in the US and UK. Its history, from its inception in the bloody aftermath of the Paris Commune, to becoming the anthem of The International Workingmen's Association and later of the Soviet Union encompasses the broad history of the anti-capitalist movement itself.
This week at the UVURSU's weekly meeting we will be having a lecture and discussion on the song its meaning, history and significance today. The meeting will be held on Thursday, December 1st at 8pm in the UVU Library room LI502.
As usual we will also be hearing reports from committees and going over club business.

Why Marx Was Right- Thursday November 3rd

2011-10-31T15:21:00.000-07:00

"Marxism is no longer relevant to contemporary society."
"Marxism is fine in theory but when it is put into practice the result is disastrous."
"Marxism is a Utopian dream that will never be realized."
Its rare in this day and age to have a conversation about Marxism where objections like these are not raised. These objections are often used to dismiss Marxism as irrelevant...or worse.
Terry Eagleton, the renowned British Literary Theorist, seeks to break through this deadlock by dealing with each of these objections (and more) and attempting to refute them one by one in his book "Why Marx Was Right."
On Thursday, November, 3rd at 8pm Steven Broadbent will be giving a presentation on Eagleton's work. If you're interested in Eagleton's responses or in having a lively discussion on these issues be sure to attend. We will be meeting in the UVU Student Center, Room SC213a.
See you there!

Occupy!

2011-10-26T15:27:00.000-07:00

This week's meeting we will be hearing an update on the Occupy movement by Jacob Hyden. That is this Thursday, October 27, at 8pm in SC213a. For anyone following the Occupy Wall St. and Occupy movements spreading across the country and globe, this meeting will be very informative and should foster great discussion. For more information about this meeting, please view the facebook event page here.

An exciting new development in Occupy Together is Occupy Provo! To take part of this exciting movement, join Occupy Provo's general assemblies which are held nightly at 7:00pm in North Park (500 n. 500 w.) in Provo. To follow events and happenings with Occupy Provo, check out the website: http://www.occupyprovo.org/
There is also a facebook group that is updated daily: www.facebook.com/OccupyProvoUtah

The Dream Act

2011-10-12T13:31:00.000-07:00

The RSU's next meeting will be held on October, 13th at 8pm in the UVU Library room LI502. We will be receiving a lecture from our immigration committee on the Dream Act and its importance to the immigrants' rights struggle.
The Dream Act or, the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act, offers a path to citizenship for undocumented youth through enrollment in college or enlistment in the military. You can learn more about this proposed legislation here.
As always at this meeting we will also be covering reports from committees and club business.
Also, Occupy SLC is currently in full swing. Occupy SLC is an ongoing occupation of pioneer park to stand in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street and the 99% who are exploited by corporate greed. You can find out more about the movement at http://occupyslc.org/
The immigrants' rights struggle and the broader struggle of the 99% against the wealthy 1% are essential to combating inequality and exploitation. Come to engage in lively discussion and find out how you can help out and get organized. See you tomorrow!

Winter Soldier Screening This Thursday

2011-10-03T15:40:00.000-07:00

This week's RSU meeting will be held on Thursday, October 6th in room LA032. We will be screening the documentary film, Winter Soldier. The meeting, including committee reports and club business will begin at 7pm and the documentary will be shown at 8pm.
In February 1971, one month after the revelations of the My Lai massacre,
an astonishing public inquiry into war crimes committed by American forces
in Vietnam was held at a Howard Johnson motel in Detroit. The Vietnam
Veterans Against the War organized this event called the Winter Soldier
Investigation. More than 125 veterans spoke of atrocities they had
witnessed and committed.

Come join us on the anniversary of the Invasion of Afghanistan for FREE PIZZA and POPCORN, with a discussion following afterwards.

New Presidency and Upcoming Events

2011-09-23T09:31:00.001-07:00

Thank you to all of the nominees who presented yesterday.
The new presidency of the UVU RSU is
Joshua West - President
Emily Lacock - Vice President
Brett Barrett - Secretary

In addition to a new presidency, we have a lot of events coming up.
Next week, Thursday, September 29 · 8:00pm - 10:00pm in room SC213B Steven Broadbent will be giving a lecture on Lenin's State and Revolution.
On Saturday October 1st the RSU Service Committee will convene at 10am to clean a portion University Avenue. More details to follow.
On Sunday October 2nd the study committee will be meeting at 2pm at the Coffee Pod to discuss Albert Einstein's "Why Socialism"
On Thursday October 6th the RSU's meeting will begin at 7pm and a showing of the documentary film "Winter Soldier" will begin at 8pm.
Winter Soldier is the chilling account of U.S. war crimes committed in Vietnam.

UVU RSU welcomes Susan William for "Why Socialist Feminism?" talk on July 14th

2011-07-08T08:40:00.001-07:00

Thursday July 14th, at this meeting we will have a special guest speaker, Susan Williams, give a presentation entitled 'Why Socialist Feminism?'. Susan comes to us from the Freedom Socialist Party and has authored several books including 'Lesbianism: A Socialist Feminist Perspective', 'Women's Psychology: Mental Illness as Social Disease' and 'Capitalism's Brutal Comeback in China'.

The meeting will take place at 7:00 pm in the UVU Library room LI 502.

The End of Poverty?

2011-06-20T11:10:00.000-07:00

Thursday June 30th - 7:00 pm - UVU LI 120

Who is Alvaro Uribe?

2011-05-22T18:42:00.000-07:00

The victims of Alvaro Uribe's presidency demand justice! Uribe is the invited guest of the Zions Bank Trade & Business Conference. We should find it absolutely offensive that Zions Bank endorses the bloody means under which Uribe 'grew' the economy of Colombia. We will be there all day to speak out on behalf of his many victims. We ask that you be there as well. Don't stay silent on this issue.

Thursday, May 26 · 8:00am - 1:00pm
Downtown Marriott – 75 South West Temple, Salt Lake City

Here is a list of some of Uribe's offenses from his 8 years as president of Colombia:

Uribe allowed the AUC, a far-right paramilitary death squad free reign in Colombia. They committed heinous crimes against the people of Colombia including decapitations, castrations, massacres and other gruesome acts of repression.

(Colombia and the United States by Mario A. Murillo)

In 2009, 48 trade unionists were murdered in Colombia for organizing. 51 were murdered in 2010. Colombia under Uribe has shown itself to be a hostile environment for the lives of the poor working-class as trade unionists are murdered every week.

(http://blog.aflcio.org/2011/04/06/afl-cio-remains-opposed-to-colombia-trade-deal/)

In May 2009, the 'false positives' scandal revealed that the military had murdered civilians, dressed them up as military and recorded this as progress in the dirty war against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP).

(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8038399.stm)

The U.K. withdrew all support from Colombia after the 'false positives' scandal

(http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/29/colombia-uk-military-aid)

In August 2010, a mass grave of over 2000 bodies was uncovered outside of the military base in La Macarena. These were once again civilian causalities murdered by the Colombian Military.

(http://www.alternet.org/world/147728/colombian_mass_grave_of_more_than_2000_may_be_civilian_trade_unionists,_not_military_casualties)

Uribe allowed Monsanto's deadly herbicide, glyphosate to be sprayed all over the country side. This chemical destroyed food crops, poisoned water sources and left nothing but Coca plants growing. While Uribe has bungled the 'war on drugs', the FARC-EP have offered the peasants a real alternative which include sustainable practices.
(http://www.soaw.org/en-america-latina/sobre-la-soa-watch/336)
(Revolutionary Social Change in Colombia by James J. Brittain)

Several of the largest banks in the U.S. have aided drug trafficking in Colombia, including Citibank who laundered more than a $100 million narco-dollars. Citibank remains one of the largest banks in Colombia with over 48 branches.
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/228350.stm)

The United States has given $7 Billion dollars to Colombia since 2000 in just military aid, all during the worst economic crisis in years. Both Bush and Obama have pledged the U.S.'s support for Colombia's dirty war against the FARC-EP including the use of your tax dollars. The people of Colombia should determine their destiny, not the Imperialist powers in the U.S. or their lackeys like Uribe in Colombia.

(http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/15021-us-military-aid-to-colombia-serves-to-enrich-defense-companies-wikileaks-founder.html)

UVU RSU Solidarity Statement with ILPS

2011-04-28T17:25:00.000-07:00

Greetings friends and comrades,

We appreciate your invitation and would like to express our full solidarity and support for the International League of People’s Struggles. We agree that this global economic crisis has sped the cuts on funding for education and social services. We also agree that students must fight to maintain funding for education as a vital human right. In addition, we do not believe the system as it stands will provide the basic human rights necessary and rights for our world.

This system does not provided justice for people in the imperialist or imperialized nations. The United States as engaged in open imperialist wars such as Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan along with hidden imperialist wars such as those in Colombia, Filipines, and Yemen. However, the United States continues to cut funding to education, pensions, and workers’ wages despite the wealth plundered from other
countries. No workers or students shall receive justices so long as imperialism and anti-democratic institutions continue to hold power.

The Revolutionary Students Union upholds slogans not only in defense of workers and students’ rights within the United States, but those around the world. We recognize that we will never have money for the people within the United States so long as funding goes to the Pentagon and its imperialist wars. We uphold the slogan “Fund education, not occupation.” We also recognize these cuts target working people and not the rich and those at the top of the system. Thus, we uphold the slogan “Chop from the top!” The Revolutionary Students Union will continue to fight to raise consciousness about the nature of the imperialist system and its connection to the world economic crisis.

We support and recognize the vital work done by the International League of People’s Struggles and are honored to share the struggle against imperialism with all of you.

Warmest greetings,

The Revolutionary Students Union (Utah Valley University)

RSU Study Committee's Class Conscious 101

2011-04-20T13:59:00.001-07:00

The RSU Study Committee will hold a Summer reading group. The reading list is being made available right now and the meetings will begin in July. This group will explore Capitalism and Imperialism as systems, detailing the theoretical understanding, historical nature and sociological effects. Everyone is welcome.

Class Conscious 101

League of Filipino Students issues press release regarding US troops in the Philippines

2011-04-07T23:58:00.000-07:00

League Filipino Students

PRESS RELEASE
April 5, 2011

US troops involved in counter-insurgency thru Balikatan 2011

“No matter how US Amb. Harry Thomas sugarcoats the Balikatan exercises, it is nothing but a massive counter insurgency operation by US troops in Philippine soil.” This was the statement of Terry Ridon, chairperson of the League of Filipino Students, as the militant student group railed at the double talk of US Embassy officials on the nature of the military exercises.

The 2011 US-PH Balikatan exercises are scheduled to start on April the 5th over different areas in the Philippines.

Ridon said that the main reason for the heightened emphasis on humanitarian aid and civic-military operations is due to the global shift in tactics of the US military to "win hearts and minds" of host nations like the Philippines.

"Again, winning hearts and minds is still within the military framework of decimation and destruction, with clear military objectives related to its involvement in counterinsurgency operations."

Ridon said never for once must the people believe the sincerity of the US military's intentions in the conduct of its humanitarian missions.

"As stated in its 2009 Counter Insurgency Manual, these 'peace-offering' tactics needs to be employed to soften the opposition of direct and actual military presence of US troops in host nations like the Philippines. Thus, all the relief and humanitarian operations are mere military US psyops, and never in the interest of full and complete Philippine development."

Ridon said that not only are US military engaging in mere psyops in the guise of humanitarian efforts, but are also engaging in direct military operations in the conduct of intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance activities across large swaths of Philippine territory, effectively revealing advantageous terrain to the US military.

"The Philippine government is too trusting of these Yankees. No one can tell when a war may erupt between the two sides and we ourselves have prejudiced our strategic positions."

Most importantly, Ridon said that all of these intrusions into Philippine sovereignty and territorial integrity are due to the continuing operation of the Visiting Forces Agreement and the Mutual Defense Treaty. Both allow the permanent presence of US troops in the country, including the possibility of engaging in direct combat operations should circumstances so warrant.

"A perusal of the MDT, VFA and the 1987 Constitution shows plain and simple that we have effectively allowed US troops to enter the country and impliedly engage in direct combat operations. There is no prohibition from such operations in all of those."

As such, Ridon said that the LFS shall engage in mass actions during the conduct of the Balikatan exercises starting April the 1st, call for the immediate abrogation of the VFA and the MDT, and demand the unconditional repatriation of US troops in the country.

RSU Meeting Thursday April 7th

2011-04-03T15:07:00.001-07:00

At our meeting this week, we will have a guest speaker come out to teach us about Unions. We will go over some of the basic ideas behind a union, what unions have accomplished through their struggles and how to unionize one's workplace. Everyone is welcome. Don't miss it!

RSU Events

2011-03-28T13:16:00.000-07:00

Thursday, March 31 · 7:00pm - 9:00pm @ UVU in SC 206(c)

At this meeting we will have a presentation given by Brett Barrett on the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Here's the agenda.

1.Read and approve the agenda
2.Read and approve the draft minutes
3.Enroll new members
4.Decide next meeting topic
5.Hear reports from committees
6.Open floor to business
7.Receive presentation by Brett Barrett on the FARC-EP
8.Sing the Internationale

Everyone is welcome.

Friday, April 1 · 12:00pm - 2:00pm @ UVU in Ragan Theater
Acclaimed Feminist author bell hooks speaks at UVU

Saturday, April 2 · 11:00am - 2:00pm @ Utah State Capitol- South Steps

On April 4 1968 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, where he had gone to stand with sanitation workers demanding their dream. The right to bargain collectively for a voice at work and a better life. Today that same demand is electrifying people across America. It’s the demand of all people- black, white, Latino and Asian America. The right to join together for our common dreams.

It is clear that the men and women of America's working families are on our side in supporting the rights of collective bargaining. Join us to make SATURDAY APRIL 2 2011 a day to stand in solidarity with working people in Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and dozens of other states where well-funded, right-wing corporate politicians are trying to take away the rights Dr. King gave his life for. It’s a day to show movement. Let’s not miss out on this rare opportunity – It is time to be creative, but clear -
We are one for JOBS
We are one for AMERICA
WE ARE ONE.

NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION ON SATURDAY MARCH 19th!!

2011-03-18T11:27:00.000-07:00

Saturday March 19th is the National Day of Action Against War! The Revolutionary Students Union will hold a March and a Rally on that day. Meet up at the SLC City and County Building(400 S. State St) around 11:45 am and we will March at Noon up to the Utah State Capitol. Once at the Capitol there will be a Rally with speakers on the south steps beginning at 1pm.

RSU Meeting & Anti-War March/Rally

2011-03-13T13:19:00.000-07:00

This week we have a couple events going on. Our weekly meeting will
take place on Thursday March 17th at 7:00 pm in SC 213(a). At this meeting we will
have a presentation on Louis Althusser given by Maxx Stewart. One can learn more about Althusser here: http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/althusser/index.htm

The agenda for this meeting will be as follows:
1.Read and approve the agenda
2.Read and approve the draft minutes
3.Enroll new members
4.Decide next meeting topic
5.Hear reports from committees
6.Open floor to business
7.Receive presentation on Louis Althusser by Maxx Stewart
8.Sing the Internationale

Saturday March 19th is the National Day of Action Against War! The Revolutionary
Students Union will hold a March and a Rally on that day. Meet up at
the SLC City and County Building(400 S. State St) around 11:45 am and we will March at Noon up to the Utah State Capitol. Once at the Capitol there will be a Rally with speakers on the south steps beginning at 1pm.

On Saturday March 26th, the MLM study group will start up. They will
meet up at the Mestizo Coffee House (641 W. North Temple Suite 700) at Noon. The first text will be the Communist Manifesto which is available here:
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/ and here:
http://librivox.org/the-communist-manifesto-by-karl-marx-and-friendrich-engels/
Read the text before hand in its entirety and prepare three questions to ask.
For more information contact Gregory Lucero reclaimeddasein@gmail.com 801-604-8039

This Week!

2011-03-06T20:24:00.001-08:00

Please come check out the RSU events going on this week. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Monday March 7th

We will have guest speaker Greg Bennick talk to us about the Western Shoshone Defense Project. More information can be found through this link.
7:00 pm in SC 206(b)

Wednesday March 9th

The U of U RSU will meet at 7:30 pm in the Frances Hoopes Seminar Room of the Marriot Library. Gregory Lucero will present on the topic of Marxism after the Revolution

Thursday March 10th

Kimmie Wing will give a History of International Women's Day. 7:00 pm in SC 213(a).

Tomorrow in SLC! March for Immigrant Rights!

2011-03-04T15:23:00.000-08:00

Hope to see all of you there!

Tommorrow night at the State Capitol

2011-03-02T10:23:00.000-08:00

Please be there!

SATURDAY @ 11:00 am!

2011-02-24T12:03:00.000-08:00

U.S. Workers: Resurgent or Waging a Rearguard Action?

2011-02-23T17:31:00.000-08:00

from People of Color Organize

"For decades, organized labor has been hammered after painful years of organizing, taking to the streets, going on strike, holding boycotts, battling police and National Guard forces, and paying with their blood and lives before real gains were won.

Important ones included an eight hour day, a living wage, essential benefits including healthcare and pensions, and the pinnacle of labor’s triumph with passage of the landmark 1935 Wagner Act, establishing the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). It guaranteed labor the right to bargain collectively with management on equal terms for the first time, what’s now sadly lost."

keep reading here here.

United for Social Justice: Immigrant's Rights March on the 5th!

2011-02-20T20:17:00.000-08:00

RSU Rallies in March!

2011-02-19T12:11:00.000-08:00

Solidarity with Wisconsin!

2011-02-18T19:29:00.000-08:00

News from Wisconsin Strikes

2011-02-17T07:20:00.000-08:00

Two recent articles from Fight Back news.

Workers and Students in North Carolina, Virginia and Throughout the South: Follow the Lead of Wisconsin Workers and Students!

Resistance in the U.S. to attacks on the public sector is growing. Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin is unleashing a major assault, seeking to take away collective bargaining rights from state and possibly all public sector workers, including threatening to call out the National Guard against worker resistance.

SDS joins over 10,000 protesters to demand end to attack on Wisconsin public employees

On Feb.15, students and workers from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee traveled to Madison to join the tens of thousands of others protesting to demand an end to Governor Scott Walker's attack on Wisconsin employees. On Feb. 11, Walker proposed his 'budget repair bill' which would eliminate collective bargaining for nearly 175,000 public-sector union members to fill a $136.7 million budget deficit. In response, over 10,000 workers and supporters stormed the capitol in Madison.

9500 Liberty Movie

2011-02-14T15:12:00.001-08:00

The RSU has organized a screening of 9500 Liberty for Friday February 18th at 11:00 am in LI 120

Prince William County, Virginia becomes ground zero in America’s explosive battle over immigration policy when elected officials adopt a law requiring police officers to question anyone they have "probable cause" to suspect is an undocumented immigrant.

9500 Liberty reveals the startling vulnerability of a local government, targeted by national anti-immigration networks using the Internet to frighten and intimidate lawmakers and citizens. Alarmed by a climate of fear and racial division, residents form a resistance using YouTube videos and virtual townhalls, setting up a real-life showdown in the seat of county government.

The devastating social and economic impact of the “Immigration Resolution” is felt in the lives of real people in homes and in local businesses. But the ferocious fight to adopt and then reverse this policy unfolds inside government chambers, on the streets, and on the Internet. 9500 Liberty provides a front row seat to all three battlegrounds.

Malcolm X Movie

2011-02-02T18:03:00.000-08:00

Celebrate Black History Month! Free Movie screening of Malcolm X. Friday February 25th. 3:00 p.m. in LI 120

RSU Provo National Day of Action Against FBI Repression

2011-01-27T12:36:00.001-08:00

DON'T LET UTAH BECOME ARIZONA RALLY!

2011-01-16T14:02:00.000-08:00

There will be an important Rally held at the Utah State Capitol on Monday January 24th from 4:30 - 6:30 pm!

National Day of Action Against FBI Repression and Grand Juries!

2011-01-15T15:49:00.000-08:00

We stand in solidarity with all those raided by FBI repression and ask our community to stand with those fighting against war and injustice around the world. The FBI repression demonstrates a blatant disregard for our freedom of speech and we must make our voices heard. Please join us on the national day of action!

TUESDAY JANUARY 25th 5:30 - 6:30 pm

We'll be holding two rallies one in Salt Lake and one in Provo.

Salt Lake City:
Sidewalk outside the Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building
125 South State Street
Salt Lake City, UT

Provo:
Outside the J. Will Robinson Federal Building
88 W 100 North
Salt Lake City, UT

If you have any questions please call 801-604-8039 or 801-687-7288.
...
The information about the FBI raids can be found below.

http://www.stopfbi.net/about

We are coming together in response to the FBI raids on seven homes and an anti-war office on Friday, September 24, 2010. The FBI also handed subpoenas to testify before a federal grand jury to fourteen activists in Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan. These activists are involved in many groups, including the Twin Cities Anti-War Committee, the Palestine Solidarity Group, the Colombia Action Network, Students for a Democratic Society, and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. These activists and many others came together to organize the 2008 anti-war marches during the Republican National Convention in St. Paul.
Across the country organizations and individuals are standing together to protest the United States government’s attempt to silence and criminalize anti-war and international solidarity activists. We see the raids and subpoenas as an attack on anti-war and other progressive movements. It is an attack on our freedom to speak, our freedom to assemble with like-minded people, and our freedom to tell the government that their actions and policies are wrong. It is an attempt to clear the way for more wars and occupations of other countries by the U.S. military.

We Demand:
**Stop the repression of anti-war and international solidarity activists.
**Immediately return all confiscated materials: computers, cell phones, papers, documents, etc
**End the grand jury proceedings against anti-war activists.

RSU Meeting - Socialism

2011-01-07T21:40:00.000-08:00

Our next meeting will be on Thursday January 13th at 8:00 PM in SC 213(a). Chris Manor will be giving a lecture on Socialism and there will be a discussion after. Everyone is welcome to attend and please bring friends.

Nativist Arguments Depend On, Circulate False Information

2011-01-04T11:47:00.000-08:00

from here

Sometimes I wonder what people who get riled up about immigration would do if they actually knew how the laws worked, instead of relying on the lies that have been spun into conventional wisdom.

Utah State Rep. Stephen Sandstrom wants Utah to pass a SB1070-style law that would drive undocumented immigrants further into the shadows. He told theLA Times one of the reasons he has become Utah’s leading anti-immigrant politician is that it is so hard for immigrants to come through legal channels.

Sandstrom became fluent in Spanish and sponsored one family that wanted to immigrate to the United States. He was shocked at the hurdles they had to surmount. They had to sign a form pledging to refuse all U.S. government benefits for five years. Sandstrom thought of the people here illegally who accessed those benefits. It didn’t sit right with him.

There are a couple of inaccuracies repeated in this short paragraph. First, the passage suggests that all it takes to immigrate to the U.S. is a financial sponsor like Sandstrom and a pledge not to access benefits. This is incorrect. It’s true that each applicant for permanent residence must locate a U.S. citizen or permanent resident financial sponsor to sign an “affidavit of support,” a requirement derived from the long-standing prohibition on accepting immigrants who will become a “public charge.” But to apply for permanent residence in the first place, applicants must have an employer or close family member in the U.S. able and willing to file the underlying petition for them.

Most people who want to emigrate to the U.S. can’t because they lack such a petitioner. A financial sponsor alone gets you nowhere. Yet most Americans believe that the U.S. takes all who wish to come, as long as they wait in the famous “line.” This line is a fantasy. It only exists for the small number of people who have close family members in the U.S. or an employer willing to wade through the red tape and expense of an employment petition. And some of those fortunate enough to be able to wait in the line must wait 10, 15, even 20 years for a visa.

But the other myth that Sandstrom repeats to this reporter is perhaps even more pernicious, the myth that undocumented immigrants are on the dole, stealing money from taxpayers.

In reality, undocumented immigrants are already ineligible for public benefits like food stamps, Medicaid, SSI, and housing assistance, even though many pay payroll, property, and sales taxes. If any undocumented immigrants do happen to get benefits for which they’re not eligible in the first place, they risk making themselves ineligible for legal status down the road, since receipt of public benefits is used by immigration officials as an indicator for likelihood of being a future “public charge,” a ground of inadmissibility.

Does Sandstrom know that the story he tells to reporters to justify his passion for persecuting immigrants isn’t true? I would hope that an elected official would take the trouble to learn the specifics of his pet policy issue, but perhaps Sandstrom hasn’t done that. Or perhaps he is deceiving the public for political gain.

But back to Sandstrom’s main complaint against undocumented immigrants: he wants them to leave because–this is his own argument–it is impossible for most immigrants to come to the U.S. through legal channels.

One of his chief complaints is that predominantly Mexican illegal immigrants crowd out other, legal immigrants — people like the Venezuelans, Peruvians and other Latin Americans whom he meets on regular return trips to South America and whom he believes are not allowed to legally immigrate because there are too many illegal immigrants here already. “This is not anti-Hispanic in any form,” Sandstrom said.

The precise nature of the “crowding out” mechanism is left to the reader’s imagination. Does each community have a limit on the percentage of brown faces it can accommodate? Would conservative politicians agree to increase visa numbers to reduce backlogs and lower wait times for family reunification if there were fewer people crossing the border? I haven’t heard of any such proposals. Most anti-immigrant politicians like Sandstrom haven’t dedicated much energy to smoothing the path of legal immigration. Instead, they’ve slammed the front door shut and then bemoaned the resulting unauthorized immigration.

Sandstrom’s argument only holds up if you don’t think about it too hard. It goes something like this:

1. Legal immigration has become increasingly difficult over the past 20 years because of anti-immigrant legislation resulting from a bipartisan backlash against globalization, worsened by a wave of nativism after 9/11.

2. Because it’s so hard to immigrate legally, we have a duty to deport any immigrants who fail to meet the strict eligibility requirements designed to screen out most applicants or dissuade them from trying to immigrate at all. After all, we owe it to the people we are hassling and forcing to live separated for years from their loved ones.

Wait … what?

The fact that Sandstrom is still repeating this argument to reporters makes me wonder how much, or how little, he’s been challenged on it at home in Utah. More likely is that the majority white population of Utah (I grew up there) is alarmed at the increasing number of Latinos who’ve made their home there in the last 15 years. This fear of the new fuels the nativist frenzy that has driven Sandstrom’s political career. Nativism doesn’t care much for arguments supported by facts and reason, it cares about keeping out those who are different.

Which brings us to the fruits of the efforts of anti-immigrant politicians like Sandstrom who ride the nativist wave: families suffer. Pro-migrant activist Tony Yapias works with the families who are hurting right now in Utah and around the country.

Yapias spends much of his day fielding calls from desperate illegal immigrants. “Tony,” they tell him, “my mother in Mexico is sick. What can I do?” Current immigration law, he says, creates millions of tragedies.Yapias put his head in his hands. “What it does to our families is just devastating,” he said.

Has Sandstrom talked to any of these families, families like the ones my brother knows who are barely scraping by, who pay tithing to Sandstrom’s church, who mow his lawn and clean his office? Perhaps he would see them if he weren’t so intent on keeping them invisible.

Next RSU Meeting

2011-01-02T21:54:00.001-08:00

We'll be meeting next Thursday, January 6th back at UVU. The goal will be to review the Why Revolution Pamphlet that Gregory Lucero prepared. The room for this meeting will be announced shortly.

Allan Nairn: As U.S. Loses Its Global Economic Edge, Its "One Clear Comparative Advantage is in Killing, and It's Using It"

2010-12-31T00:11:00.000-08:00

Allan Nairn: As U.S. Loses Its Global Economic Edge, Its "One Clear Comparative Advantage is in Killing, and It's Using It"

I highly recommend taking the time to listen to this interview.

Imperialism Workshop in SLC

2010-12-29T13:44:00.000-08:00

This will be held at City Cakes(282 East 900 South in SLC) on Saturday, January 8th at 3:00 PM.

I'm putting together a workshop to help educate people on Imperialism. The goal will be to give an understanding of what Imperialism is, as well as how it plays out in practice. I believe this is important to our struggles because such knowledge allows us to understand the motivations behind wars, the causes behind financial crises and the state of abject poverty in the third world.

I've selected two texts that I will ...be working with. Please feel free to read and go over them and bring any questions that you may have.

Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism
http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1916/imp-hsc/index.htm
The Right of Nations to Self-Determination
http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1914/self-det/index.htm

These are available in Spanish here:

El Imperialismo , Fase Superior Del Capitalismo
http://www.marx2mao.com/M2M%28SP%29/Lenin%28SP%29/IMP16s.html
El derecho de las naciones a la autodeterminación
http://www.marxists.org/espanol/lenin/obras/1910s/derech.htm

I'm working on having a translator present for Spanish speakers. Feel free to invite anybody to this as everybody is welcome. I will also be working out rides from Utah County for anybody interested. Feel free to send an e-mail for more information: christophermanor [at] gmail [dot] com

RSU Meeting - Wednesday December 29th

2010-12-26T04:51:00.001-08:00

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday December 29th @ 8:00 PM. We will be meeting at Josh's house again, which is located at 145 West 1000 South in Orem. The goal of this meeting will be to go over the 'Why Revolution?' pamphlet drafted by Gregory Lucero. You can read excerpts of it on his blog, or if you'd like to get the whole first draft, please e-mail the RSU. uvursu@gmail.com

Red Flags Over Utah

RSU Meeting - MEND

2010-12-17T14:19:00.001-08:00

At the next meeting on Wed Dec 22nd @ 8:00, we will have a lecture on MEND, the Movement to Emancipate the Niger Delta given by Josh West. This meeting will take place at Josh's house, located at 145 East 1000 South in Orem.

RSU Meeting - December 16th - Hardt & Negri

2010-12-10T10:09:00.000-08:00

At this meeting we will have a lecture on Hardt & Negri given by Chris Manor. This will be a critical look at their philosophy through the lens of Marxism-Leninism. Below are some videos regarding Hardt & Negri.

RSU Meeting - Thursday December 9th - Michel Foucault

2010-12-03T09:23:00.000-08:00

At this meeting we will have a lecture on the french philosopher Michel Foucault given by Jacob Jensen. It will be at 8:00 in SC 206(g/h). Everyone is welcome to attend.

Michel Foucault famously debated Noam Chomsky.

The Crisis of Credit

2010-11-30T15:29:00.000-08:00

War on Democracy Thursday Night

2010-11-30T15:19:00.000-08:00

We will have our meeting this week on Thursday December 2nd @ 8:00 pm in SC 206(a). This week we will be showing 'War on Democracy', a documentary about US Imperialism in South America. Everybody is welcome to attend and please bring friends.

WHOSE HOUSE!?

2010-11-22T18:29:00.000-08:00

from UVU Review

Debatable dynamics of immigration

: A group of students and community residents show their opposition to Rep. Sandstrom’s immigration bill. Gilbert Cisneros/UVU Review

A considerable uproar could be heard throughout the halls of UVU as the Revolutionary Students Union club protestors stood outside the ballroom auditorium chanting “Shame on Sandstorm” on Thursday, Nov. 18.

The debate that is one of many that will be held at the request of student government and their professors. Their objective is to participate in controversial issues so they may be well versed in all kinds of arguments.

Five individuals were asked to help educate student by volunteering their time. These officials include Utah legislators Rep. Stephen Sandstrom, R-Orem, and Chris Herrod, R-Provo. The debate also included Esperanza Granados of American Civil Liberties Union of Utah; Dimitri Mumulidisz, executive director of Utah Democratic Lawyers Council; and Mark Alvarez, an immigration attorney and member of the Utah Minority Bar Association.

Sandstrom was the official protestors were focused on, because of a policy he has written that some say has many similarities to the controversial policy that Arizona’s Gov. Jan Brewer enacted.

Sandstrom tried to make it clear that his policy differs from Arizona in many ways.

“My bill only enforces and cites current federal law,” Sandstrom said. “I’m not doing anything different from current federal law.”

In the debate he covered some of the larger issues that are part of illegal immigration, such as identity theft, and the importance of honoring and obeying the rule of the law. To be fair, he said, there should be consequences for those who enter the country illegally.

He was backed up on the issue of fairness by Herrod, who stressed the “forgotten immigrants,” identified as the ones from Ukraine, China and Africa who are trying to legally enter into the United States.

Their issues were acknowledged and rebutted by their opponents, like Alvarez, who addressed Sandstrom’s immigration policy.

“If we went state by state trying to pass immigration policy, we would have fifty different immigration policies within the United States. That makes no sense,” Alvarez said. “Within the Supreme Court, even if the state law is a copy of federal law it can be unconstitutional because it places burden on the federal government. Ironically, these people who are screaming rule of law and then trying to incarcerate people are breaking the law; they are violating the constitution.”

Alvarez had the support of protestors, who were lead by Gregory Lucero. He says he supports workers of all nationalities and wants to provide information that explores many of the myths about immigration.

“In the context of this particular debate, we would say that this has to be a federal solution,” Lucero said. “In general the solution is to integrate people from all nations into our community, grant them rights so they’re not hidden and exploited by those who want cheap labor.”

Although many of the panelists addressed the need to not be emotional, the debate had plenty of that. From the protestors holding their cardboard signs to participants sharing stories about friends and family members who have suffered the immigration process, the room was full of emotion. Then there were the students who surrounded the panelist after the debate with their own heartfelt stories and fevered opinions.

UVU student Kenny Barlow gave his reaction to the debate.

“Too much emotion, on both sides: One side wants to tell you to follow the rule of law, the other side wants to call that side racist.” Barlow said. “For me, I think illegal immigration is a symptom of a bigger problem: it’s a symptom of bad boarder policy, bad citizenship requirements, a symptom of a bogus war on drugs and symptom of poor welfare programs. As for immigrants, bring them all. Gives us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses – I love it, I think it makes America better than it is.”

For more information on upcoming debates and student government events, visit www.UVU.edu/studentgovernment/wctivities

For more information on the Revolutionary Students Union, www.UVURSU.com

War on Democracy - Tuesday November 23rd

2010-11-19T20:06:00.000-08:00

At the next meeting on Tuesday November 23rd, we will show the film 'War on Democracy'. This film is about U.S. Imperialism as it has been carried out in South America. The meeting will begin at 8:00 and will be in SC 206(a). All our welcome and bring a friend.

RSU welcomes Guest Speaker Tom Burke this week.

2010-10-24T14:39:00.000-07:00

Greetings Everyone,

This week the RSU is excited to bring out a guest speaker to talk about Ricardo Palmera, the FARC-EP as well as F.B.I. repressions against anti-war and solidarity activists. Tom Burke will have two events on campus this week, on Wednesday. Burke is the head of the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera as well as a member of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

Wednesday October 27th:

On Ricardo Palmera and the FARC-EP in SC 206(a) @ 11:00 a.m.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=160076177342962

On F.B.I. repressions in SC 206(a) @ 8:00 p.m.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=158828667485098

Please try to attend one of these events.

http://www.freericardopalmera.org
http://www.stopFBI.net

Thursdsay October 21st: Posada Carriles: Terrorism Made in USA

2010-10-19T12:20:00.000-07:00

We will be showing this documentary at our meeting on Thursday October 21st @ 8:00 in LA 025

National Day of Action for Education! Thursday October 7th

2010-09-29T17:37:00.001-07:00

The National Day of Action for Education is October 7th. The Revolutionary Students Union will be participating by having a rally at Center Stage in the Student Center from 11:00 to 2:00. More details will be announced soon.

Emergency Actions to Support Anti-War and International Solidarity Activists

2010-09-26T19:35:00.000-07:00

Stop FBI Raids and Harassment

The Revolutionary Student Union, Utah activists and concerned citizens
will answer the call issued by the Anti-War Committee for solidarity
actions at Federal Buildings and FBI offices.

We denounce the Federal Bureau of Investigation harassment of anti-war
and solidarity activists. The FBI raided seven houses and an office in
Chicago and Minneapolis on Friday, September 24, 2010. The FBI handed
subpoenas to testify before a federal grand jury to eleven activists
in Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan. The FBI also attempted to
intimidate activists in California and North Carolina.

This suppression of civil rights is aimed at those who dedicate their
time and energy to supporting the struggles of the Palestinian and
Colombian peoples against U.S. funded occupation and war. The FBI has
indicated that the grand jury is investigating the activists for
possible material support of terrorism charges.

The activists involved have done nothing wrong and are refusing to be
pulled into conversations with the FBI about their political views or
organizing against war and occupation. The activists are involved with
many groups, including: the Twin Cities Anti-War Committee, the
Palestine Solidarity Group, the Colombia Action Network, Students for
a Democratic Society, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization. These
activists came together with many others to organize the 2008 anti-war
marches on the Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

We ask people of conscience to join us in fighting this political
repression, as we continue working to build the movements against US
war and occupation.

Take Action:

Call the U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder at 202-353-1555 or write an
email to: AskDOJ@usdoj.gov.

Demand:

**Stop the repression against anti-war and international solidarity activists.

**Immediately return all confiscated materials: computers, cell
phones, papers, documents, etc.

**End the grand jury proceedings against anti-war activists.

A demonstration has been called at the Utah Federal Building Monday,
9:00 AM, September 27th (125 South State Street.).

In Solidarity, the Revolutionary Students Union

F.B.I. raids the homes of anti-war activists

2010-09-24T20:28:00.000-07:00

reposted from Fight Back News!

Activists Denounce FBI Raids on Anti-war and Solidarity Activists Homes
Subpoenas, Searches, and FBI visits carried out in cities across the country
By Staff |
September 24, 2010
Read more articles in People's Struggles

We denounce the Federal Bureau of Investigation harassment of anti-war and solidarity activists in several states across the country. The FBI began turning over six houses in Chicago and Minneapolis this morning, Friday, September 24, 2010, at 8:00 am central time. The FBI handed subpoenas to testify before a federal grand jury to about a dozen activists in Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan. They also attempted to intimidate activists in California and North Carolina.

"The government hopes to use a grand jury to frame up activists. The goal of these raids is to harass and try to intimidate the movement against U.S. wars and occupations, and those who oppose U.S. support for repressive regimes," said Colombia solidarity activist Tom Burke, one of those handed a subpoena by the FBI. "They are designed to suppress dissent and free speech, to divide the peace movement, and to pave the way for more U.S. military intervention in the Middle East and Latin America."

This suppression of democratic rights is aimed towards those who dedicate much of their time and energy to supporting the struggles of the Palestinian and Colombian peoples against U.S. funded occupation and war. The activists are involved with well-known anti-war groups including many of the leaders of the huge protest against the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN in September 2008. The FBI agents emphasized that the grand jury was going to investigate the activists for possible terrorism charges. This is a U.S. government attempt to silence those who support resistance to oppression in the Middle East and Latin America.

The activists involved have done nothing wrong and are refusing to be pulled into conversations with the FBI about their political views or organizing against war and occupation. The activists are involved with many groups, including: the Palestine Solidarity Group, Students for a Democratic Society, the Twin-Cities Anti-War Committee, the Colombia Action Network, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera (a Colombian Political Prisoner).

Steff Yorek, a long-time antiwar activist and one of the activists whose homes was searched, called the raids “An outrageous fishing expedition.”

We urge all progressive activists to show solidarity with those individuals targeted by the U.S. Government. Activists have the right not to speak with the FBI and are encouraged to politely refuse, just say “No”.

Please contact info@colombiasolidarity.org or info@fightbacknews.org if you would like to provide support to the targeted activists.

RSU Study Committee - Wage Labour and Capital

2010-09-19T14:43:00.000-07:00

The Study Committee will meet on Sunday September 26th to discuss Karl Marx's Wage Labour and Capital. We will meet at 6:00 p.m. at the Coffee Pod in Provo (426 W 1230 N).

Wage Labour and Capital is an essential text for understanding the nuts and bolts of capitalism and the process of exploitation that workers under go during the working day. Below are two links, one is to the text itself and the other is to mp3 files that you can listen to.

Text: http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1847/wage-labour/index.htm

Audio: http://librivox.org/wage-labour-and-capital-by-marx-karl/

I hope that you will be able to read the text and join us for a good discussion. Please bring any questions you have. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Gloria La Riva on the Cuban Five

2010-09-10T19:33:00.000-07:00

The Revolutionary Students Union is excited to host guest speaker Gloria La Riva from the Party for Socialism and Liberation / The National Committee to Free the Cuban Five. At 11:00 a.m., Tuesday September 14th in UVU room SC 213(b), Gloria will speak about the Cuban Five's struggle for justice. For more info on the Five, see this website FreeTheFive.org. At the meeting at 8:00 in SC 206(c), Gloria will speak on Cuba, which is one of the few remaining socialist countries. Please join us.

UVURSU Study Committee - Introduction to Radical Politics

2010-08-29T08:15:00.001-07:00

The UVURSU Study Committee is announcing its introduction to radical politics study group. We will meet up every two weeks to discuss the essential works of Marxism-Leninism and Anarchism. Everybody is encouraged to attend as well as bringing questions to ask.

Our first reading will be The Communist Manifesto by Marx & Engels. We will meet at the Coffee Pod in Provo on September 12th @ 2:00.

The Communist Manifesto can be found for free on Marxists.org right here:
http://www.marxists.org/archive/...marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/index.htm

A full reading list and schedule will be announced soon.

On Immigration by Maxx Stewart

2010-07-17T11:29:00.000-07:00

Introduction:

In recent months, I have looked at the current state of immigration policy, immigration rates, and the state of immigrants in personal, political, and social context, with growing concern. The intention of this document is to both educate and persuade readers to reexamine their views on immigration and immigrants.
With current legislation passed in Arizona (SB 1070) and similar legislation coming to other states including Utah within the next several months it is important for people to understand the facts about immigration and immigration reform, before potentially ineffective, costly, and in some cases deadly legislation is passed. Immigration reform that may lead to a worse condition for both the American people and Immigrants entering America both legally and illegally.

Immigration and crime rate:

Recent polls have shown that nearly 75% of people believe that it is either very likely or somewhat likely that a rise in immigration rates will lead to a higher crime rate (Hagist). A recent study by Tim Wadsworth has examined the validity of this belief and in fact it appears that the exact opposite is true. This study looked at the influence of immigration on crime in urban areas across the united states between 1990 and 2000 with sample cities with populations of 50,000 or more. The study shows that “cities with the largest increases in immigration between 1990 and 2000 experienced the largest decreases in homicide and robbery during the same time period”.(Wadsworth)
There are also concerns that illegal immigrants also work as drug mules for major drug cartels while crossing the boarders. The most recent data coming from a report by the university of Arizona's Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, most immigrants who enter the united states illegally do so because they can make higher wages in U.S. Businesses that hire them then they could make in their native countries. (Rough) This is in conjuncture with the data from the Washington, D.C based Pew Hispanic Center that shows that as many as half the 11 million illegal immigrants in the country are visa violators, meaning they entered legally and stayed after their visas had expired. An additional 500,000 are here after using a day long border crossing cards and stayed.(Rough) This data shows that most immigrants have nothing to do with drugs when they initially cross the boarder and simply are looking for better lives or the ability to feed their families.

Immigration and the effects on the economy:

In a recent New York Times/CBS News Poll it was clearly apparent that public opinion was strongly convinced of the idea that illegal immigrants weakened the economy (roughly 74% of people polled, this compared to only 17% that believed that immigration strengthens the economy (New York). There are several theories on why this might be the case regardless of the facts. First many may be viewing immigration in light of the 2008 recession fearing the entry of new workers into the job market. Others view the strain caused by undocumented immigrants on public services, including schools, hospitals and jails. There also may simply be a racial component to the fear, as some have argued that immigrants are a convenient target for societies fears, stresses and insecurities. Any or all of these can contribute to the current climate of anxiety and mistrust towards immigrants, both legal and undocumented. What matters in this case is weather or not any of these attitudes are warranted or based on solid data.
To understand how immigrants effect the economy it is important to understand what sectors the the economy benefit and what sectors are hurt by high immigration rates, as benefits are uneven across sectors the job market and economy. David Card, an economist at the University of California, Berkely found that “businesses that profit most directly from immigrants are low-cost labor businesses and employers-meatpacking plants in Nebraska, for instance” (Campo-Flores) These savings translate directly to prices at the grocery store or other businesses that use products made with unskilled labor. This benefit is in comparison to immigration on native low-skilled workers, who suffer the most from immigrant competition. A recent study by George Borjas, an economist working for Harvard, immigration reduced the wages of high-school dropouts by 9 percent between 1980 and 2000. This has lead to surveys showing that people without a high-school diploma oppose illegal immigration more strongly then those with a high-school diploma or above (Borjas).
Next is the argument that immigrants take more from public services then they pay in, causing a drain on the public economy. Gordon Hanson, an economist at the University of California, San Diego, however has commented saying that many undocumented workers pay money to the federal government, in the form of social security contributions and income taxes, and take less in return. At the state and local level illegal immigrants make contributions through property and sales taxes, but in general immigrants use more public services such as schools, health benefits and welfare assistance. As a result the federal government ends up with a net gain while the states “get stuck with the bill”
In the end “the net effect of immigration is minimal (about a one tenth of 1 percent gain in gross domestic product...Even for those more acutely affected-say, low-skilled workers, or California residents-the impact isn't all that dramatic.”(Campo-Flores)
In a study published by the Center for American Progress it is speculated that “comprehensive immigration reform generates an increase in U.S. GDP of at least 0.84 percent. Summed over 10 years, this amounts to a cumulative $1.5 trillion in additional GDP. It also boosts wages for both native-born and newly legalized immigrant workers. The temporary worker program generates an increase in U.S. GDP of 0.44 percent. This amounts to $792 billion of cumulative GDP over 10 years. Moreover, wages decline for both native-born and newly legalized immigrant workers. Mass deportation reduces U.S. GDP by 1.46 percent. This amounts to 2.6 trillion in cumulative lost GDP over 10 years, not including the actual cost of deportation, Wages would rise for less-skilled native-born workers, but would diminish for higher-skilled natives, and would lead to widespread job loss. Legalizing the nation's unauthorized workers and putting new legal limits on immigration that rise and fall with U.S. Labor demands would help lay the foundation for robust just and widespread economic growth. (Center)

Reasons for Immigration
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the most significant "free trade" agreement in this hemisphere, was presented, developed, and instituted according to the classic capitalist logic of the flood that would raise all boats, and as such it was thought that NAFTA would actually reduce the number of immigrants crossing the border from Mexico both legally and illegally through increased wages and standards of living both above and below the U.S.-Mexico border. However, in the decades since its inception, precisely the opposite has occurred.
Hugely subsidized American agribusiness made it possible to flood Mexican markets with cheap white corn, a staple food source, which put pressure on Mexican farmers (along with many other cheap commodities affecting other fields of production). Unable to compete with the influx of white corn, farmers had either to turn to growing yellow corn to export for U.S. livestock feed, or to alternative crops, which would require investments they were largely unable to make. The net effect was that many agricultural workers were forced out of the business entirely.
The primary options available to those agricultural workers forced out of the business were to move north and find factory work in maquiladoras, that is, factories producing cheap goods for export to U.S. markets (which presented dangers of its own), or to cross the border and find work illegally in the U.S.
However, wages in the U.S. have outstripped those in Mexico for decades, partially as a result of NAFTA allowing U.S. companies to move their production to Mexico. Wages have been further driven down by the availability of desperate and poor former agricultural workers flooding the labor market south of the border, and thus the latter option, illegally entering the United States, proved the most attractive to many. As a result, the number of undocumented workers has risen from roughly less than 3 million in 1993, to over 12 million today, by some estimates; much of this can be attributed to the effects of NAFTA and supposed "free trade."

Current Immigration Laws

“The primary immigration laws are contained in a statute known as the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The INA and its related federal regulations (Title 8 of the code of Federal Regulations) cover immigration laws governing: Who is an immigrant and who is a citizen, who can enter the country from abroad, who must have a visa to enter the country, how visas are defined and administered, how immigrants are processed, which immigrants can be removed (deported) from the country, what immigrants must do to maintain their legal status, how immigrants can become permanent residents or naturalized citizens, who qualifies as a refugee or asylum recipient” ( Thaker Law)
These laws apply to all non-citizens who are physically present in the country or who seek such immigration benefits as work and tourist visas and green cards or citizenship. Violations of these laws mean the possibility of being deported or denied entrance with the possibility of never being able to enter the United States lawfully. (Thaker Law)
Non-citizens are subject to deportation laws regardless of their “immigration status, length of residence in the United States, existence of significant family ties, existence of steady work history and tax payments, contributions to the community....” (Thaker Law) this can mean hardships for people being deported and can cause unfair problems for the progress of immigrants working toward legal goals. Deportation for Green card holders can mean being forced off the path to citizenship. For those with family ties it means separation from family members, or giving up their connection to communities. It can also mean family members that were supported by the immigrants will suffer unnecessary financial problems.
Deportation is warranted under current law for several reasons including: involvement with drug related or violent crimes, unlawful voting, attempting to aid immigrants getting into the country illegally, termination of immigration agreements, and many other reasons. (Thaker Law)

Current Enforcement of Immigration Laws

Current enforcement efforts that focus entirely on the enforcement of anti-immigration laws while ignoring big picture consequences and causes that are currently in use by the government are not cost effective and ineffectual. Instead of curbing immigration levels and preventing the movement of immigrants into the country they have wasted billions of dollars in tax payer money as well as forced immigration further underground. This furthering of dangerous illegal immigration has caused the demand for people smugglers to go up and forced immigrants into circular migration patterns rather then permanent settlement in which they could directly benefit their community and families.
Attempting to enforce unrealistic immigration laws has a high cost and no benefit. The number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States has increased since 1990 however costs of enforcing immigration laws has increased by 714 percent since 1992. Spending 2.7 billion in the fiscal year 2009 (Hinojosa-Ojeda) Another way to look at the cost for border patrol is to look at the cost per apprehension numbers, which is the amount of money spent per person actually apprehended while attempting to enter the country illegally. According to the same data by the U.S. Border Patrol yearbook of immigration statistics, the cost of apprehension has gone from 272 dollars in 1992 to 3,102 dollars in 2008. Despite this increase in spending the immigration rates have nearly tripled in the time since 1990 from 3.5 million in 1990 to 11.9 million in 2008.
This inability to prevent immigrants from entering the country illegally has had unintentional consequences however, both on the boarder and within the United States. First by focusing efforts on urban areas in which boarder crossing is relatively safe, immigrants are forced to use mountainous or desert trails that are far more dangerous. This has lead to a much higher migrant death rate since 1995 when boarder enforcement was increased. The national Commission of Human Rights estimates that 5,607 migrants have died while crossing the boarder between 1994 and 2008 (Hinojosa-Ojeda 5). Second increased boarder pressure has increased opportunities for people smugglers. The necessity of crossing the boarder in more dangerous terrain has made the hiring of a people smuggler almost a necessity when crossing the boarder so much so that 9 out of 10 unauthorized migrants are forced to hire one. This in comparison to the numbers 10 years ago when hiring a smuggler was the exception rather then the norm. This need for smugglers has also sent the price up dramatically from 10 years ago to nearly $3,000 a head in many cases causing migrants to go deep into debt just to get into the United States. (Hinojosa-Ojeda 5). The high risk of crossing also means that it is more likely that immigrants will settle permanently rather then earning what they need and going back to their communities or families in their native countries. Last the high enforcement rates force workers further underground allowing companies to hire them for lower and lower wages, which cuts costs. This depresses the low-wage labor markets and lowers income of both low-skill native workers and migrant workers, which ironically creates more demand for undocumented workers from outside the country.

Examples of positive alternatives to enforcement only policies.

Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA)

“The 1986 IRCA granted legal status to 1.7 million unauthorized immigrants through its “general” legalization program, plus another 1.3 million through a “Special Agricultural Workers” program. Even though IRCA was implemented during an economic recession characterized by high unemployment, studies of immigrants who benefited form the general legalization program indicate that they soon earned higher wages and moved on to better jobs-and invested more in their own education so that they could earn even higher wages and get even better jobs. Higher wages translate into more tax revenue and increased consumer purchasing power which benefits the public treasury and the U.S. Economy as a whole. IRCA failed, however, to crate flexible limits on future immigration that were adequate to meet the growing labor needs of the U.S. Economy during the 1990s. As a result, unauthorized immigration eventually resumed in the years after IRCA, thereby exerting downward pressure on wages for all workers in low-wage occupations.(Hinojosa-Ojeda 7-8)

The Cuban Adjustment Act

“ The Cuban Adjustment Act (CAA), Public Law 89-732, as enacted on November 2, 1966. the law applies to any native or citizen of Cuba who has been inspected and admitted or paroled into the United States after January 1, 1959 and has been physically present for at least one year, and is admissible to the United States for Permanent Residence.” (Fact) The Cuban adjustment act has had success coupled with several procedures put in place in order to ensure that immigrants from Cuba are able to enter The United States legally including: the issuing of visas to children, parents and spouses of US citizens as soon as the immigration visa petition is approved, a preference system that more easily allows siblings and adult married children visas, resettlement options through the refugee processing unit for those who have fear of persecution (on the basis of race, religion, membership in a particular group etc.), and a special Cuban migration program often called the Cuban Lottery. These systems and procedures set in place allow as many 67% in 1996 to 73% in 1998 of people attempting to become US citizens visas and legal entry into the country and allows them to become full citizens after only a year of physical residence in the country. (Fact)

Conclusion

In light of the evidence and current trends, I hold a stance that current immigration reform is ineffectual, costly, and dangerous. It is also not aimed at the wants or needs of society but instead driven by a poorly thought out nationalist ideology that pushes a harmful “us verses them” mentality. This legislation should be halted immediately and more effective and humanizing tactics should be implemented. Including but not limited to extending successful traits of the Cuban adjustment act and other successful immigration laws to all immigrants regardless of nationality. Next we should urge current representatives to view the evidence of immigration as well as approach any problems with the attitude that immigrants are people and not statistics or a force to be frighted of. We should also attempt to spread helpful and accurate information that supports immigration to people who are ignorant or misinformed of current immigration issues. In the long run of course the most effective recourse of action would be to stress immigration issues while organizing including using effective protest and agitation tactics that fall in line with a proper Marxist Leninist Maoist ideology in efforts to organize the working class in a way that transcends boarders, the information in this document is meant to be the basis of organization and propaganda methods targeted at promoting proper and evidence based opinions on immigration and immigration reform and should be used as such.

-Maxx Stewart

Sources:

Baybee, Roger, and Carolyn Winters. "Immigration Flood Unleashed by NAFTA's Disastrous Impact on Mexican Economy." Common Dreams. Common Dreams, 26 Apr 2006. Web. 15 Jul 2010. .

Borjas, George. "THE LABOR DEMAND CURVE IS DOWNWARD SLOPING: REEXAMINING THE IMPACT OF IMMIGRATION ON THE LABOR MARKET." NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES. NATIONAL BUREAU OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH, 6/2003. Web. 4 Jul 2010. .

Camp-Flores, Arian. "Why Americans Think (Wrongly) That Illegal Immigrants Hurt the Economy." Newsweek 05/14/2010: n. pag. Web. 4 Jul 2010. .

"Fact Sheet: The Cuban Adjustment Act." State Department . Office of Cuban Affairs, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Department of State, 16 Mar 2000. Web. 13 Jul 2010. .

Hagist, Megan. "How We’re Doing: the Real Numbers on Immigrants and Crime." Ms. Blog magazine 23 June 2010: n. pag. Web. 24 Jun 2010. .

Hinojosa-Ojeda, Raul. "Raising the Floor for American Workers." American Progress. Center for American Progress, Immigration Policy Center, 01/2010. Web. 6 Jul 2010. .

"Immigration Laws of the United States of America." Thaker Law. Thaker Berowitz LLP, 06/07/2010. Web. 6 Jul 2010. .

"NAFTA boosted Mexican immigration: study." World War 4 Report. WW4 Report, 24 Jan. 2009. Web. 15 Jul 2010. .

Rough, Ginger. "Brewer: Most illegal immigrants smuggling drugs." Az Central 25/06/2010: n. pag. Web. 6 Jul 2010. .

Shaffer, Ellen. "Immigration is a NAFTA Problem. This is Not Big News.." Huffington Post 13 Jul. 2010: n. pag. Web. 15 Jul 2010. .

"The New York Times CBS News Poll." The New York Times. The New York Times, 05/2/2010. Web. 4 Jul 2010. .
UCHITELLE, LOUIS. "Nafta Should Have Stopped Illegal Immigration, Right? ." New York Times 18 Feb. 2007: n. pag. Web. 15 Jul 2010. .

Wadsworth, Tim. "Is Immigration Responsible for the Crime Drop? An Assessment of the Influence of Immigration on Changes in Violent Crime Between 1990 and 2000." Social Science Quarterly 91.2 (2010): n. pag. Web. 24 Jun 2010.

David Harvey talking about the crises of Capitalism

2010-07-04T18:29:00.001-07:00

Revolutionary Students Union

2010-06-12T14:08:00.000-07:00

We are the Revolutionary Students Union.

We exist for the revolutionary overthrow of capitalism.

We hold that capitalism is an immoral system of exploitation that has destroyed the lives of the majority so that an elite minority can make profits. We believe that capitalism is responsible for the devastation taking place against the ecological systems that we depend on for life. We believe the imperialism is responsible for the conditions of so many nations that exist in abject poverty. We believe that the only way to correct these problems is by replacing capitalism with something else.

We are non-tendency. There are many ideologies of anti-capitalism. The Revolutionary Students Union seeks to unite these ideologies in the common struggle against capitalism. By building a united front, we can maximize our efforts of resistance towards the onslaught of capitalism against our families and communities, while strengthening our offensive positions.

As a student organization, we seek to raise awareness and consciousness on our campus. We agitate from tables in the halls and challenge the dominant bourgeois ideologies. We hold meetings every week that discuss revolutionary theory, history and politics. We organize within our club to respond to issue regarding labor, rights of minorities, as well as various student issues like tuition hikes.

In less than a year, we have made national as well as international contacts. We have also forged alliances with local groups who also struggle against capitalist oppression. Now we are looking to move forward. We ask that you join us in our fight for liberty, equality and solidarity.