The leaves are not the reds in Ithaca. Cornell’s chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America is busy organizing toward a just, ethical and socialist society.
We are living during a time of extreme wealth inequality, racial injustice, military spending and environmental destruction. The U.S. government bails out banks and big businesses while cutting welfare, Medicare, educational funding and other social services. While thousands of Americans die every year because they lack health insurance, the ruling class spends billions on a military budget that upholds the genocide in Palestine and massacres innocent civilians abroad.
Mining, deforestation, industrial farming and oil drilling have destroyed the environment, unsustainably extracting every resource for profit. Oil companies and big businesses work tirelessly to prevent climate legislation, the implementation of sustainable living methods and renewable energy research, all while pinning the blame for their crimes on regular people.
Workers struggling through long shifts with little benefits have no control over their wages, environment or hours. Democracy and justice are foreign concepts to the capitalist workplace. Those who own the means of production profit off the working class while using their vast wealth and the legislature to decimate the power of unions in the United States.
Since our political system is dominated by elites who only represent corrupt donors and unethical lobbies, voting our way out is impossible.
These are not the signs of a broken system. This is capitalism working as intended, generating colossal amounts of wealth for the few at the expense of workers, communities and the natural world. There is but one path forward: socialism.
The national DSA and YDSA recognize this need for collective action and transformative change to destroy capitalism. As the largest socialist organization in U.S. history, our main projects include labor organizing, the Green New Deal, electing DSA candidates into office, Medicare for All, Palestine organizing and abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
As the Cornell chapter of the YDSA, we have adapted this struggle to fit our specific environment. Elite universities are fundamentally capitalist institutions. Cornell in particular is invested in numerous weapons manufacturers guilty of enabling genocide. It funnels students into the military-industrial complex while lacking resources for socially beneficial engineering or the humanities. Founded by the unlawful and unethical seizure of Indigenous land, Cornell continues to act as a parasite, starving the Ithaca community of resources through its tax-exempt status.
Through our privileged position as students, Cornell YDSA is committed to fighting for affordability on campus, investment in Ithaca and an end to the University’s complicity in genocide.
While our priority campaigns have ranged from elections to sanctuary campus to divestment, our committee structure allows us to tackle a wide range of issues.
Our Labor Committee has done extensive research for the United Farm Workers, raised money for labor organizing and hosted educational film screenings.
With our elected YDSA Ithaca Alderperson Hannah Shvets, our Electoral Committee engages in policy work in Cornell and Ithaca, including TCAT negotiations and tenant protections.
Taking charge of last year’s sanctuary campus campaign, our Queer Solidarity Committee organized tabling for ICE Off Campus, engaged in negotiations to protect gender affirming care on-campus and hosted an incredible drag show.
Our Eco-Socialism Committee has been organizing against the construction of a data center in Lansing, New York, which, if built, will permanently destroy Cayuga Lake’s ecosystem. The committee’s other projects include volunteering at the Ithaca DSA Public Garden and promoting alternative gardening practices.
Our Political Education Committee regularly hosts reading groups and events discussing communism, anti-imperialism and labor organizing.
All the while, our Communications Committee keeps everyone up-to-date on important events, rallies, socials and successes.
Starting this semester, Cornell YDSA is committed to divestment as its priority campaign. In coalition with Cornell Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voices for Peace, we are demanding that Cornell divest from genocide and invest in its community.
Sign our petition to show your support and/or get involved with the campaign.
Fill out this interest form to get involved with Cornell YDSA.
The Cornell Young Democratic Socialists of America is a registered student group whose mission is to educate and organize students to aid in a principled movement for social justice. We meet every Monday at 6 p.m. in Anabel Taylor Hall, room B27.
