Campus Activism
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
It is not often that I blog two days in a row, but today I HAVE TO. And since I know some of you slackers don't come back everyday, this is my official notice that you have two posts to read. I promise the other one is short.
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Today I am reminded of one of the most powerful tools I have as a young queer activist. NETWORKING! Throughout my time here at the University I have learned that when you want to get something done, you have to stay on top of it. That means making visits to the Campus Activities Center (CAC) on a regular basis, sitting and chatting with the budgets people, and even randomly running by one or two associate Dean's offices to make sure people know what you are doing. Sometimes these trips have to happen every day.
Case in point - As a result of my most recent adventures into the CAC and beyond, I found a room for my comedian (in an already booked up union), I was directed toward a possible screening of the Logo and the Sundance Channel's new film "Transgeneration," I managed to find one or two groups to co-sponsor activities with our group for next year, and I even created interest for some administration types in an upcoming Drag Show.
Granted, with the contacts I have now, I could have done much of that from the comfort of my home through email. However, I am a firm believer that were it not for my bright shiny face knocking around the basement of the student union on a regular basis nobody would even really think of me when it comes to these kind of events. I am sure SPECTRUM would not be among the groups to get first invited to sit on planning boards for some of the University's biggest celebrations. And the emails would all go to the listserv or to my advisor (not that this is bad, just at times less effective when advisors have real jobs and listserv mail gets deleted).
Here's my point. If you want to be part of a successful organization, where you can at times run in at the last second and expect people to help, you have to be proactive. Make friends, not enemies among those whose help you will later need. And when you can, plan in advance. These things will make event planning smoother, and may even lead to having cute Student Affairs types fluff your ego (it happened to me this morning).
posted by ZEUS @ 10:38 AM,
