ORGANIZING 101: INTRO TO SDS ORGANIZING
Building a Successful Student Movement

I. THE GOAL

What your campaign hopes to accomplish?

II. MESSAGING

1. Consistency

2. Goal of messaging

3. Stick to the message or theme of your campaign.

4. Don’t use alienating language

5. Keep the message forefront of all parts of the campaign

6. Physical appearance and presentation is a part of messaging.

III. SPECTRUM OF ALLIES

IV. TACTIC

1. Tactic:

2. Strategy:

3. Message:

4. Tone:

5. Timing:

6. Audience:

7. Allies:

8. Resources:

9. Target:

*** NOTE: Poorly planned actions hurt the movement more than they help

V. PLANNING A CAMPAIGN

SCENARIO: In the midst of more tuition hikes and multiple assaults of women at your school, you and three friends decide to start an SDS chapter. Your chapter would like to begin building student power to fight tuition hikes, create a women’s health center, and make your campus safer.

THE LANDSCAPE: You attend a fairly apathetic school. There are several student groups; including a women’s center, NYPIRG, religion clubs, a gay-straight alliance, and several fraternities and sororities. The administration is somewhat hostile towards student activism, but hasn’t been tested in awhile.

To build the power to accomplish your goals, your chapter wants to embark on multiple events early in the semester to double membership, create strong alliances with three student groups, and get 200 people to a rally against tuition hikes when the Presidents addresses alumni at a dinner in 3 months. What kind of events can you hold to reach out to different audiences and work towards goals? Be as creative as you’d like.