We are a chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America working to develop class-oriented politics at both the University of Pennsylvania and in the greater Philadelphia area.

We believe that the capitalist system serves only to keep the working class suppressed and to create hardships for people of color, women, and LGBTQ+ people. In addition, we believe the only way to halt impending climate catastrophe is through an urgent and bold approach, only possible through a complete overhaul and replacement of the capitalist system. 

We believe that only a mass movement of workers can build socialism, and that students can—and should—play an instrumental role in both constructing and supporting this movement toward socialism. Unfortunately, the American campus-left is currently dominated by middle- to upper-class academics and millennials who have replaced socialism with a radical aesthetics incomprehensible and alienating to the vast majority of American workers, turning them away from anything beyond Bernie’s essential reforms.

We believe there are two major tasks of socialist students.

The first is to support the working-class struggle, in all its forms. This includes working with and under progressive community organizations, campaigning to elect democratic socialist and socialist candidates who will implement the immediate demands of workers, and the general empowerment of the working class.

The second is to elevate our political consciousness, as students, through but not limited to the study of political theory, a productive dialogue about democratic socialist issues and ideals, and the direct observation of the working-class movement. 

In completing these two tasks, we believe that we will have contributed what we can to building a better world.