'Student Unionism and Sustaining Student Power'

I have to admit, I was at first skeptical of the entire notion of 'student unionism.' First, I didn't really see the similarities between fighting for student power and workers campaigning for a union. Looking at today's labor landscape, joining a union has little to do with gaining real decision-making power in the workplace. Second, my educational politics had matured in an environment where the goal was creating the national government in microcosm on campus. At student government meetings we'd argue about "precedents," the precepts of "good governance," "separation of powers," whether or not we should reinstate a judiciary branch, etc., etc. (That is, when we weren't arguing over itemized funding for the equestrian club or greek-sponsored beer pong tournaments.)

There of course is a twofold allure to the traditional form of student government:

1) In general, it's easier to replicate than create. We had years of Social Studies classes that pounded into our heads that the American political system was uniquely awesome, magisterial in its structure and execution. So having a representative democracy writ small at school is the teeniest of conceptual leaps, especially because the name of the organization was "student government." That's an incredibly loaded term, and the conceptual baggage that comes with it weighs us down and prevents us from envisioning more dynamic modes of student cohesion that may better fit a campus environment.

2) We easily fall prey to delusions of grandeur, as we wade around in our teacup tempests. Having a multitude of hierarchical offices and positions in student government fosters withdrawal from the real world of institutional power, and into petty power-plays and procedural tactics between fellow students, each eager to A) have the best notch on their resumé and/or B) lord power over others (however well-intentioned or subconscious the motivation may be). Naturally, the University Administration couldn't be more thrilled. We're left in the sandbox to fight over castles, shovels and toy trucks, while the adults are off elsewhere making the actual decisions.

Student government as it exists in the U.S. today is primarily a vehicle for student-vs-student conflict. By that token we should therefore explore other structures if the struggle we aim for is student-vs-administration.

In this 2002 essay, "Student Unionism and Sustaining Student Power," student activist Charlie Eaton makes a convincing argument for student unionism, and offers a few suggestions as to how we can use existing national groups (like USAS and USSA) to coordinate unionization campaigns. It's also an effective and concise summary of grad student union campaigns, and how the labor movement can help students (since students have certainly helped the labor movement). If you want to get other progressive students interested in student power, hand them this essay. Read/download the PDF here.