Join With An Existing Group, or Start your Own?
First, find out if there are any existing organizations interested
in peace work on your campus. Check with your Student Activities
office, look for posters in the student union, and ask others if a peace
and justice group has recently been active.
If a group of progressive students has already been formed at your
school, talk to some key members and find out what kinds of issues they
work on. If they seem politically compatible and open to your ideas it
may be easier to join with them than to start a new group from scratch.
If that group is very large you could start a spin-off group, or
subcommittee. If there is no group that fits the bill, why not start
your own?
Start Your Own Group
To start a group of your own, first try to find one or more like-
minded people to share in the initial work. Then advertise by posting
flyers around campus and writing in the school paper. If you know
students in other organizations, have them announce your meeting at
their own. Choose a location for your meeting that is easily
accessible, like a room in the student union, a cafe or a meeting hall.
You can make the meeting open to all students, faculty, and members of
the community. Or have your first meeting include a small group of
people you know and your second one be an "open house" meeting that is
built broadly. You may wish to choose a working name for the first
meeting and then let the group decide on its permanent name.
Know your Campus
Are students at your school used to taking part in political
activities? Is your campus an elite private university, a residential
public university, or a commuter school for part-time students? How
strongly is your school linked to the military, and is there a strong
right-wing presence there? Activities that go over well at one school
may not work at another.
Whatever your situation, it is helpful to talk to other activists to
learn what has and has not worked. One suggestion is to invte activists
from even as far back 10 or 20 years back to come to campus to discuss
their experience with today's activists. Not everything they say will
still apply, but it's likely that much will still be true.
Figure Your Constituency
You need to figure out who you want to involve in your activities.
Undergraduates or Graduate Students? On-campus residents or commuters?
Engineering student or liberal arts students? If you gain faculty and
community support, it will only make your movement stronger.
Don't Exclude Potential Allies
Many groups are started by people from similar backgrounds, and
unknowingly may exclude people who do not come from the same background.
For example, low-income students who work in addition to studying may
not have time for four-hour meetings. Try to reduce the number of long
meetings, and define smaller roles for students who may only have 30
minutes a week to help out.
Define Your Mission
The mission of your group should be located somewhere other than the
inside of the founder's head. The purpose should be articulated so that
the initial members will be comfortable. It should be debated at your
initial meetings to give group members a sense of ownership over group
decisions. One way a group can foster this ownership is to discuss and
revise its mission at the beginning of each academic year. A mission
should say, in 1-2 paragraphs, who you represent, what you do, where
you do it, and why you do it, and how you do it.
Prepare for the New Semester
Most campuses have an activities fair or orientation week where
established activities can set up tables to recruit new members from the
incoming class. Be sure that you make the deadline for reserving a
table, that you prepare an inviting display, and that your core of
active members is mobilized for this important recruitment opportunity.
Get Recognition and Submit a Budget
Once you have gained official university recognition, you ought to
take their money. Some budget items you may wish to consider.
Educational Video Series $90
Forum Publicity (posters) $25
Rally Publicity $40
Rally Supplies (Placards, etc.) $20
Educational Flyers (2K copies) $50
Video Player/Film Rental $20
Membership Mailings $40
CCO Group Membership $35
TOTAL $300
Always consult your student activities office for some advice and
guidelines before seeking funding. Some schools may let you add $1,000
or more to pay an outside speaker. Be forewarned that some campus
administrations, states, and student governments have imposed
restrictions on funding "political" activity to limit the political
expression of student groups.
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