The society, part of the national Scottish Green Party, announced its re-formation via Instagram on March 26.
Stirling University Greens, formed of Committee Co-conveyors Adam Johnson and Ellie Hammond and Treasurer Tom Mackenzie aims to “support student interest in green politics and build up and contribute to the network of green groups”.
Speaking before their Annual General Meeting, Adam, Ellie and Tom discuss their plans for the new society and why the Green Party appeals to young people.
The society was last active in 2017, dissolving after committee members graduated and was re-established after the Student Union elections
Ellie, a fourth-year English and Film Media student, and recently elected VP Communities Officer, discusses how the group was formed:
“I remember sitting down when we started doing candidate briefings…through the Union and realising all these people think the same way that I do.”
“In my campaign, sustainability, intersectional feminism, all these things that the Green Party stand for were intrinsic to my campaign. Realising that other people also wanted to fight for this social justice, wanted to be involved more in this. And then the elections finished, and we were like ‘there’s so much more that we can do’ and I think that’s what prompted us to then go… ‘we all have very similar politics. We all want the same thing’.”
Stirling University Greens are part of the wider Scottish Young Greens, the official youth branch of the Scottish Greens which is open to all Scottish Green Party members who are students or aged between 16-30. The Scottish Young Greens describes itself as “a voice for young people within the SGP [Scottish Green Party]”.
Ellie explains why it is important to make politics accessible and enjoyable for young people.
“I think amongst young people it can be quite a taboo subject to go to other young people and go ‘did you vote…where do you kind of align?’ And a lot of people aren’t that open about talking about it. But I think it’s important for this generation to be involved, to be aware of what’s going on, not just in the University environment, also nationally, internationally.”
Reflecting on the response the society has received since announcing its relaunch, the committee notes the positive reaction present in the university and further afield.
“We’ve had a lot of support,” Ellie remarks.
“We’ve had a lot of the Green branches interacting with our posts…and we’re getting more followers coming in every day…we are part of a wider community that is a wider network, it’s really, really exciting.”
Discussing the gap in student politics at Stirling left by the previous Green Society, Adam, a second-year International Politics student and president of the Politics Society, adds:
“Our aim is to bring that back together and have one organised thing and say ‘look, we know all these people are quite supportive of this if we have a centralised force, it means we can do a lot more together”.
Ellie adds:
“Looking directly at why [the society] probably was dissolved, it was most likely due to numbers or no one wanting to step up and carry it on. However, I think the environment has changed a lot politically since that point. There have been a lot of sustainable political efforts on campus through the likes of Global Justice Stirling, that are doing incredible work, and the Earth and Environment Society”.
Tom, a second-year History and Journalism student and the Student Union Art Officer elect, explains why they think the Greens are appealing to younger voters more than other Scottish parties.
“I think young people are disillusioned with big parties and particularly sleaze. With the Greens, you don’t really see that and I think that really speaks a lot to the high moral standing of the Green Party.”
Adam agrees, adding: “I think the Greens have always put young people up there…like the free travel for under 22s, that was a Green Policy. They’re one of the defenders of free tuition, including supporting greater funding for higher education and secondary schools and primary school”.
The Scottish Greens entered into a power-sharing agreement with the SNP from August 2021 until April 2024, marking the first time Green Party politicians have formed part of a government in the UK.
Ellie also highlights the representation that the Green Party brings to many young people.
“For myself being queer, I don’t feel personally there’s another party that has that equality and representation.”
Discussing the future of the society, the committee announces there are already plans in action for the Scottish Greens National Spring Conference, held at the Stirling Court Hotel on April 12, for which the society is helping organise the Ceilidh social.
“The fact that we as a small, restored university society can help and contribute to part of the national campaign and National Conference is a really strong thing,” Tom says.
Further plans Adam is keen to work on include the ongoing student housing crisis in Stirling.
“That’s a campaign that we can definitely help with and work on with the University. We can show that politics isn’t just about voting, it’s also about active participation and we can prove to people and support places like Global Justice Society.”
Stirling Greens Society will be attending the National Conference on April 12 and encourage any young people interested to accompany them. Attendees must register in advance and be a member of the Scottish Green Party.
The committee’s message to Stirling students looking to get involved in the society:
“When we’re advertising what we’re up to, a lot of it is through Instagram. If you’re reading this and you’re wanting to get involved, give us a follow to keep up to date with what we’re doing- come chat to us, see what we’re up to, see what it’s all about.”
The link to the society’s social media can be found on the Student Union website.