USU YDSA
USU YDSA is a Utah State University affiliate of Young Democratic Socialists of America.
Founding
At Utah State University, students interested in being politically involved have their choice of a few clubs: the conservative Young Americans for Freedom, or the centrist College Democrats and College Republicans. Diego Mendiola decided to expand that list.
“There’s just not that much diversity here,” said Mendiola, the leader of USU’s chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America, a new club on campus. “That’s just a fact, not a derogatory statement. A lot of students have ideas that align with certain groups’ concerns. If you think college and health care is too expensive, we have that in common.”
Mendiola said he set out to start the school’s first far-left club for the community and to create more empowering individuals.
“I want people, especially younger people, to be more politically involved. I want them to learn how to be a participating citizen,” Mendiola said. “If you have tools to express your feelings to the community and to the Legislature, you will be able to make a difference.”
Focusing on local politics and attending city council meetings are the immediate goals.
“Right now a big issue is the proposed ban on plastic bags, and I want people to know about the issues,” Mendiola said.
He hopes to be able to collaborate with other clubs in the future and create solidarity between causes such as the LGBTQ groups on campus.
“We want to see more transparency on campus. For example, the Koch Brothers’ donation is a mess that needs more transparency,” Mendiola said. “We need to know what happens, because as students, we are the only reason this university exists.”
Samantha Ray-Hulse is the club’s social media representative, and she said that she is glad to have a club that represents the values she shares with many other students.
“I hope this club will serve as a forum for the disenfranchised and be a way for the voiceless to be heard,” Ray-Hulse said. “I think USU has never had a club like this before, and the fact that DSA is already such a huge organization gives us the support we need to make USUYDSA a reality. The students seem eager to be a part of this.”
The organization hosted an opening social last week and plans to organize more events around city council meetings and local politics. Mendiola said that everyone is invited to come out to their gatherings.
“We want to extend an olive branch to far-right and Republicans to be more open-minded about what we are trying to achieve. We aren’t a hostile group. There are a lot of ideas about what is considered far left, but we are not trying to be antagonizing. We want to give people a voice,” Mendiola said.[1]