By Cayla Bartosz
On September 9, Western New England University’s Student Senate held a vote to approve Young Democratic Socialists, or YDS, as an official club. In a hotly contested ballot, the group was approved with 7 “yes” votes, 6 “no” votes, and 6 abstentions. The road to establishment has been a long one, beginning two years ago when Noah Young, the group’s main organizer, was a freshman on campus.
Having become interested in socialist politics during high school, Young sought to continue his activism upon attending college. When he noticed that Western New England University had no student organizations centered around progressive politics, he decided to start one himself. After attending a Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) seminar on founding a chapter, he wasted no time upon arriving on campus.
In September 2023, Professor Catherine Plum became YDS’s faculty advisor and has since become one of its strongest supporters among the staff. Harris Freeman, a Western New England University law professor and American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) attorney, has been a strong supporter of the group as well. Among former professors, the most high-profile supporters YDS has among its ranks are Michael and Robert Meeropol. The two taught in the Economics and Anthropology departments, respectively, and are the sons of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, two members of the Communist Party of the United States of America (CPUSA) who were executed for conspiracy to commit espionage in 1953. Despite support from faculty for the formation of YDS, the group has faced heavy resistance from university administration and the Student Senate, with motions to approve the club failing to pass in both February 2024 and October 2024. When the group originally tried to charter to be affiliated with YDSA on a national level, they were denied on the basis that the university doesn’t recognize chartered organizations. As such, the club dropped its quest for national recognition to be recognized as a campus organization.
After the administration prevented a YDSA chapter from being established on campus, both Meeropol brothers wrote a letter expressing their disappointment in the decision. The letter read, in part, “We hope you will see your way to reversing this decision. Given that there are DSA chapters at many of the public and private colleges and universities in Western Massachusetts and throughout New England, the University’s reputation and public image will be damaged should it persist in such an authoritarian decision.” Young read from this letter to the Student Senate prior to the failed February 2024 motion.
During the Senate’s discussion of the motion to approve the YDS, Young described the group as “a big-tent socialist student organization. To put it simply: Anyone to the left of Ronald Reagan is welcome to join and participate.” The group’s long-term projects are grassroots campaigns centered around advocating for the interests of the student body.
While students’ interests are a top priority, members have and continue to engage in off-campus activism as well. Some examples from the past two years include supporting the Springfield Educators Association (SEA) in their fight for a fair contract and supporting MGM Casino staff during their unionizing efforts.
Now that the club has been approved by the Student Senate, YDS members have far greater tools at their disposal to realize their ambitions. They plan to hold political education events and host guest speakers in order to foster a greater awareness and understanding of left-wing politics on campus. In spite of obstacles thrown their way, as the socialist slogan goes, a better world is possible.
