In solidarity with international student encampments and reclamations of their respective, Zionist-supporting Universities, we have decided to read the Situationist pamphlet On the Poverty of Student Life: A Consideration of Its Economic, Political, Sexual, Psychological and Notably Intellectual Aspects and of a Few Ways to Cure it (1966).
Taking advantage of the apathy of their colleagues, five “Pro-situs”, Situationist-influenced students had been elected to the University of Strasbourg’s students’ union in November 1966 and began scandalising the authorities. The students promptly proceeded to print 10,000 copies of the pamphlet using university funds and distributed them during a ceremony marking the beginning of the academic year. This provoked an immediate outcry in the local, national and international media. The students responsible were expelled and the student union closed under court order. The scandal significantly raised the profile of the Situationist Internationale and led them to reappraise the revolutionary potential of academia, reversing their previous disillusionment to take seats on the Occupation Committee of the Sorbonne during May 1968. On the Poverty of Student Life was a key text for the French and German students who rebelled in 1968.
On The Poverty of Student Life is available in plain text on the Anarchist Library or in an imposed PDF zine print format.
As always, we will be meeting at Camas Books, 2620 Quadra street, unceded Lekwungen territory. The next session will take place on Sunday, May 12 at 6:30pm.
This week we’ll be exploring different anarchist pedagogies through the writings of Judith Suissa, whose PhD research was on the topic of anarchist education. Today, Judith works as a lecturer in philosophy of education at the Institute of Education, University of London.