Starting a Student Group
Starting a student group can seem like a pretty daunting task. You have to deal with your school's administration, you have to find members, and you have to establish a presence on your campus...all while working on papers and going to classes; there's a lot to do! We know exactly what you're facing and through our own processes of trial and error, we've developed a step-by-step approach to starting a student group. This list will help you stay organized and stay focused. Trust us, we've been there -- we know how hard it can be.
1. Find a core group of like-minded, motivated individuals.
While this isn't absolutely necessary, a student group with a strong core of leaders and members will be far more successful than one without. There's only so much you and your friend can do, but there's a lot that you, your friend, and 5 other people can do!
If you're having a hard time finding people to start a group with, there are a lot of options available to help you locate potential start-ups. First and foremost, Facebook is a great tool. Look around at people's political statuses and group affiliations. It may be a little creepy, but saying "I'm trying to start a group here on campus and I need help. Contact me at XXXXX@yyy.edu" on a group's wall will go far in expanding your potential core membership. Additionally, speaking up in class or disagreeing with a professor on a certain point might alert other students to your ideals. Sometimes you may strike up a conversation with them and they might be interested in helping you start your group.
If you're having a hard time finding people to start a group with, there are a lot of options available to help you locate potential start-ups. First and foremost, Facebook is a great tool. Look around at people's political statuses and group affiliations. It may be a little creepy, but saying "I'm trying to start a group here on campus and I need help. Contact me at XXXXX@yyy.edu" on a group's wall will go far in expanding your potential core membership. Additionally, speaking up in class or disagreeing with a professor on a certain point might alert other students to your ideals. Sometimes you may strike up a conversation with them and they might be interested in helping you start your group.
2. Write a constitution
This is an absolute must -- before you begin recruiting or before you begin holding events, you have to write a constitution for your group to lay down the guidelines, rules, and framework for the organization. At minimum, the constitution should include a mission statement, a list of officers and their responsibilities, how to handle elections/amendments, and membership requirements. It is also suggested that you have (at least) a President and Treasurer. Make sure that your constitution adheres to all of your school's policies! While this gives you a rough idea on what is required in a constitution, examples do a far better job of explaining what to do. Here are the constitutions of our member schools and the constitution for the PFF itself:
| Penn Libertarian Association Constitution (.doc) |
| Drexel Student Liberty Front Constitution (.docx) |
| Philadelphia Forum for Freedom Constitution (.doc) |
3. Learn to navigate your school's bureacracy
Knowing how your school works is a different challenge depending on where you go. Some schools are incredibly easy to work with and some are incredibly hard. In general, it is a good idea to know how your school's funding process works, how advertising is monitored/restricted on campus, if your school mandates certain membership criteria, and how to reserve rooms and venues. While it may go by different names, most schools will have an office or department devoted to student organizations (IE - Office of Campus Activities), funding (IE - Student Activity Fee Allocation Committee), and room reservations (IE - Event Services). Know how these departments work. Even better, talk with the administrators often and befriend them so they are more willing to help you if you need it. These offices will generally assist with any problems you may have and can point you in the right direction.
As you go on, you will find that each school has different administrative loops for student organizations to jump through. Once you learn what bureaucratic problems you have to deal with (and how to solve them), be sure to record your solutions so future officers won't have to waste time relearning the same steps that you climbed before. While you do not have to detail your experiences as extensively as this, the Penn Libertarian Association's Executive Board Handbook can show you how to pass on your learning experiences to your future members:
As you go on, you will find that each school has different administrative loops for student organizations to jump through. Once you learn what bureaucratic problems you have to deal with (and how to solve them), be sure to record your solutions so future officers won't have to waste time relearning the same steps that you climbed before. While you do not have to detail your experiences as extensively as this, the Penn Libertarian Association's Executive Board Handbook can show you how to pass on your learning experiences to your future members:
| PLA Executive Board Handbook (.doc) |
4. Expand your membership while planning/advertising events
Once your group is established (and if you've made it this far, you're doing well), one of the best ways to recruit new members is through events and advertising. First, look to see if your school has some sort of "activities fair." These events give student organizations a chance to advertise on campus and will help establish your group's presence at your school. Generally, you will be given a table to advertise with, but all schools are different and you should learn how yours works.
Second, while your ideals will attract members, it is also very effective to bring in students with events. Realistically, many students will not know who you are or what you stand for, but when they see your group is hosting an event criticizing the drug war or supporting free markets, you will inevitably meet active people who are interested in your message.
Third, flyer campus. Always adhere to your school's regulations, but it's always a good idea to put up flyers and hand out advertisements in high-traffic areas. For example, Drexel regularly sets up advertising tables outside of its dining hall and hands out event information, pocket Constitutions, and general group points of interest. Additionally, passive advertising works well in these areas (IE - hanging flyers on trees, light posts, etc.). Every campus has a main thoroughfare or gathering area, so be sure to identify these areas and advertise. Sometimes you might even find success hanging flyers on the doors of bathroom stalls!
Fourth, while flyering is an excellent way to reach a general and diverse audience, some events benefit from more strategic and targeted advertising campaigns. For example, when Drexel hosted John Stossel and David Boaz, each member school targeted other student organizations and departments that may have been interested in the speech. IE - College Republicans, Economics/History/Political Science departments, and ACLU clubs.
Lastly, USE FACEBOOK. It is not necessarily a good tool for estimating how many people will come to your events, but it is an amazing tool for getting the word out.
Here are some flyer examples for you to build off of:
Second, while your ideals will attract members, it is also very effective to bring in students with events. Realistically, many students will not know who you are or what you stand for, but when they see your group is hosting an event criticizing the drug war or supporting free markets, you will inevitably meet active people who are interested in your message.
Third, flyer campus. Always adhere to your school's regulations, but it's always a good idea to put up flyers and hand out advertisements in high-traffic areas. For example, Drexel regularly sets up advertising tables outside of its dining hall and hands out event information, pocket Constitutions, and general group points of interest. Additionally, passive advertising works well in these areas (IE - hanging flyers on trees, light posts, etc.). Every campus has a main thoroughfare or gathering area, so be sure to identify these areas and advertise. Sometimes you might even find success hanging flyers on the doors of bathroom stalls!
Fourth, while flyering is an excellent way to reach a general and diverse audience, some events benefit from more strategic and targeted advertising campaigns. For example, when Drexel hosted John Stossel and David Boaz, each member school targeted other student organizations and departments that may have been interested in the speech. IE - College Republicans, Economics/History/Political Science departments, and ACLU clubs.
Lastly, USE FACEBOOK. It is not necessarily a good tool for estimating how many people will come to your events, but it is an amazing tool for getting the word out.
Here are some flyer examples for you to build off of:
| PLA Speaker Flyer 1 (.pdf) |
5. Hold regular meetings
This idea is intuitive but it deserves a spot in this list. Regular meetings give your members something to take part in and give your group a cohesive feel. This does not mean hold regular executive meetings (you should be doing that already), but rather hold regular general body meetings. Your group needs to feel like a group, not just a rag-tag alliance of individuals that think Karl Marx is stupid. The frequency of these meetings is up to you, but their regularity is not up for debate.
Eventually, your groupmates will come to the meetings, not out of obligation, but because of friendship and enjoyment.
Eventually, your groupmates will come to the meetings, not out of obligation, but because of friendship and enjoyment.
6. THE SOCIAL
Have fun with each other! Don't force all your interactions to be official. You can be friends and members at the same time! Hold university-unaffiliated events like going to restaurants, having parties, and generally spending time together. Go minigolfing, go to a gun range, or go to the beach for a weekend. Spend time together! Chances are these relationships will outlive even your academic career.