A senior at Texas A&M University-San Antonio started a movement this spring with the goal of solidarity during divisive political times.
Launched by John Ortiz, biology major, the Democratic Socialists Club has 18 members with half regularly attending weekly meetings.
They are currently considered an interest group. Next semester they will have a registered board of directors and will officially be considered a club.
Without any funding, Ortiz took up the task of educating fellow students about the concept of Socialist Democracy.
“I created this club as a way to, one, educate people on what socialism is and isn’t, but also create a space where students can come here and find, you know, solidarity,” Ortiz said.
He is about to graduate but said he still hopes to leave a legacy of the core beliefs he developed while attending A&M-San Antonio.
The weekly meetings occur at 3:45 p.m. on Thursdays, room 223 of the Science and Technology Building.
Although Ortiz said he had hoped there would be a more social aspect where everyone interacted, it has slowly evolved into informational sessions that allow him to share his understandings of socialism and discredit what he described as the sociopolitical stigmas being spread on mainstream media.
Every week he tailors a short lecture for members. The senior sees other groups including some at school as being too divisive although humans are a very social species that need one another to prosper even at the individualistic level.
Ortiz said he hopes to leave a solid foundation for the club to prosper even after he graduates although he will continue with his goal of universal solidarity and inclusiveness for everyone.
He said the election for board of directors positions will happen soon.
For more information, visit the organization’s homepage;
https://tamusa.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/democratic-socialists