The KU YDSA is Back on Campus

The KU YDSA are proud to return to campus with a renewed organizational commitment to better the lives of all citizens of Lawrence.

Written by Daniel Mercado | Edited by Jaiden Steven

The Left? In my KU?

The University of Kansas is notorious for being “THE liberal university in Kansas,” but any Poli Sci major would tell you that being a liberal is not the same as being a leftist. This distinction can be summarized as such; liberals support the status quo, that is, capitalism, which has proven empirically incapable of handling issues such as poverty, hunger, housing, constant war, functional illiteracy, and even genocide. Leftists, on the other hand. wish to help their community through the democratization of all facets of society (including the economy) to reverse the normalization of these horrors and destroy them. KU’s own Young Democratic Socialists of America absolutely believes in the principles of positive change and equality for all, regardless of class or social status. Therefore, the KU YDSA are proud to return to campus with a renewed organizational commitment to better the lives of all citizens of Lawrence.

To begin this renewed effort, the YDSA is announcing several education initiatives including informative presentations on Democratic Socialism, Countering Dangerous Misinformation on the Unhoused, and other important topics. We also plan to produce educational pamphlets and short form videos on these topics. However, none of these important organizing efforts can be accomplished without continued support of students and staff alike. It is through solidarity and unity that any working-class movement can succeed, especially in a society that normalizes poverty and all its despicable children as “the status quo.” Thus, we call all students and faculty to action, to fight for true freedom- not only the freedoms of speech, of creed, of assembly, and all of the other “freedoms of,” but also the freedoms FROM hunger, FROM poverty, FROM war, and FROM all the evils that we see constantly in the news. The best part is that the first step in this fight is easy- come to a meeting and help us organize against the objective evils that constantly plague our lives. We can’t wait to see you there!

As Chair of the Education Initiatives Subcommittee, I would like to open it to broader membership to diversify the points of view and expand discussions. I am happy to welcome all to join the Subcommittee and to get involved with YDSA leadership. A better future is possible.

Daniel Mercado is the Chair of Educational Initiatives Subcommittee and Co-Chair of the Outreach Committee for the KU YDSA

Jaiden Steven is the Treasurer of the KU YDSA and Editor in Chief of the Weekly Rose