UM Socialists, a student club at the U of M, has been undergoing rebranding.
Initially named Humans Against Capitalism and previously UM Regrowth, the club has decided to turn toward a name that directly reflects their goals.
Hunter Reynolds, UM Socialists president, said the club previously tried to obscure its socialist identity to appeal to other student clubs, but with changing membership the club’s goals changed. “We’re aiming to appeal to socialists and people who are interested in socialism, so I think they should probably know that,” he said.
“People are passionate about politics, and we want to give them the opportunity to do something with that passion,” Reynolds explained when asked about the club’s goals.
Currently, as a result of club member interests, they are doing local volunteering, a weekly book club, weekly educational videos and are looking at including movie nights and board game nights.
Reynolds mentioned that the club was previously too focused on its identity, when energy could have been directed to “other things.”
“Once we get a big enough membership, we can focus on things like where we fit in, exactly, in the space of Winnipeg politics, or how we want to present ourselves to the public, but right now, we just want to get everyone who shares our goals in the same place together.”
On Feb. 28, UM Socialists volunteered with Food not Bombs, a volunteer organization that aims to recover unwanted food, usually vegan or vegetarian, and share it with the public for free.
The club chose Food Not Bombs because “mutual aid is something that aligns with [the] club’s goals.”
“They’re an anarchist organization, which basically means they believe society should be organized by the people, without centralized structures or government,” Reynolds said.
“That ideology is very similar to ours. They’re really good at practicing what they preach, though, showing that people can take care of each other without the need for profit incentive or coercive power structures,” Reynolds explained.
During the volunteering event, attendees made all the food from scratch and then distributed it to the people themselves. Reynolds highlighted the cost of groceries and the struggles of students to afford food. “Some students are homeless, too. Food is a human right, not a privilege.”
He stated anything people can do to help others with food insecurity “could potentially go a long way.”
“Believing in socialism is believing in your own best interests, as well as the best interests of humanity as a whole,” Reynolds said. “Give it a shot.”
“The only way we can realistically make change is through organizing, and this club is a good place to do that. We’re still growing and open to any and all ideas right now, so I think it’s a good time to join,” Reynolds included.
“Community is at the heart of socialist ideas, so I think we could provide a really good sense of community for anyone who might be lacking that. I hope especially that it gives a hopeful space on campus for people who want to see actual change in the world.”
