Is there life beyond neoliberal economic policy? What is the relevance of Marx’s economic ideas for 21st century man? For the CST, it is about exploring theories that are different from the current mainstream and about community. We talked to Valéria Pelyhe, a member of the specialised college.
Since then, the specialised college has grown into a number of social enterprises, and an active alumni community supports the current membership. At the College of Social Theory, there is also a strong emphasis on the three pillars of the collegiate movement: community, professionalism and social responsibility.
Community
Recently, there was an online event to celebrate the CST’s birthday, in which the College’s “alumni” joined in. There were also former members aged 40-50 who, despite the many years that have passed, still keep in touch with the dorm and with each other, and there are also examples of couples who have been bowling,” says Valéria about the special occasion. Some of the College’s events are specifically aimed at older people, and there is a permanent contact person in the College who is responsible for keeping in touch with former members. Last year, the presence of the college’s “alumni” was a huge help when they had to move out suddenly, and Valéria says they were able to support many people in housing.
Valéria is also happy to tell us about the spirit of solidarity in the CST: “At the dorm, we try to take into account that everyone comes from different financial and social backgrounds, and so we run a number of programmes with no entry threshold, as well as a redistribution system, for example in housing, but also for camps and community events.”
The CSTis located in Ráday Street, in the Földes Ferenc College. There are currently 35 residents, not determined by membership but by space availability. The college has few restrictions on age, course and university, so the community is very diverse. The ages range from 18 to 27 and the rooms are co-ed. In residential housing, the smaller communities also aim to be mixed by age. Rural and first-year students are given priority for housing, but moving in is of course optional.
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