1. Laying the Groundwork

1. Laying the Groundwork
Building Your Advocacy Team
In an ideal world, you'd have the luxury of carefully selecting each member of your advocacy team. However, reality often unfolds differently. You might find yourself thrust into action with whoever is available and willing to stand up. The Renew the Wisconsin Idea campaign didn't have the opportunity to handpick its team, yet we still achieved significant results. Remember, this playbook and its tools are designed to help you succeed regardless of your team's initial skill level or composition.
That said, if you do have the chance to build or expand your team, here are some key considerations:
Diversity of Skills and Perspectives:
Aim for a mix of personalities and skill sets. You'll benefit from having:
Strong, assertive voices who can lead discussions and negotiations
Empathetic individuals who can share personal stories effectively
Detail-oriented members for research and documentation
Journalism or communications students who can liaise with the press
Tech-savvy individuals to manage social media and digital outreach
Key Roles to Consider:
Team Leader/Coordinator: Oversees strategy and ensures everyone is aligned
Research Lead: Gathers evidence and prepares reports
Communications Director: Manages messaging and media relations
Outreach Coordinator: Handles stakeholder engagement (administration, legislators, etc.)
Technology/Social Media Manager: Leverages digital tools for the campaign
Remember, these roles can be fluid. In smaller teams, individuals may wear multiple hats. The key is to ensure all essential functions are covered.
Team Dynamics:
Foster an environment of open communication and mutual respect
Encourage diverse viewpoints while maintaining focus on shared goals
Establish clear decision-making processes to avoid internal conflicts
Onboarding and Training:
Share this playbook with all team members
Hold regular strategy sessions to ensure everyone understands the campaign's objectives and tactics
Encourage continuous learning and skill-sharing among team members
Flexibility and Adaptability: As the Renew the Wisconsin Idea campaign demonstrated, you can succeed even if you don't start with an ideal team composition. The key is to remain flexible, leverage each person's strengths, and be willing to learn and adapt as you go.
Remember, passion and commitment can often compensate for initial lack of experience. With the strategies outlined in this playbook, even a group of passionate beginners can become effective advocates for change on campus.
Understanding Your Campus Environment
Before launching your advocacy efforts, it's essential to have a comprehensive understanding of your campus environment. This knowledge will inform your strategy, help you identify potential allies and obstacles, and ensure your efforts are grounded in the realities of your specific institution. Sometimes this is a complicated effort and you don’t have time to do so. Just know that the more you understand your campus environment, the more effective an advocate you will be!
🛠️ Campus Environment Researcher 
Visit: Campus Environment Researcher

This comprehensive tool conducts in-depth background research on university policies, power structures, and campus climate. It analyzes complex institutional data to provide valuable insights into the current state of your campus environment. The Campus Environment Researcher equips you with crucial knowledge about existing policies, key decision-makers, and potential areas for improvement, enabling you to develop more targeted and effective advocacy strategies.

Have a free ChatGPT account and have you created your context statement yet? The context statement is something that gives the AI a background on your initiative, making it easier to work with. If you haven't created one yet, go here: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-xCikrtZq1-context-statement-generator
Researching University Policies and Procedures
Familiarize yourself with your university's code of conduct, free speech policies, and protest guidelines.
Understand the process for filing complaints or grievances.
Research any existing policies related to discrimination, harassment, or antisemitism.
Look into the university's disciplinary procedures for student organizations.
Mapping the Power Structure
Identify key decision-makers in the administration (e.g., Chancellor, Dean of Students, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs).
Understand the role of the Board of Regents or Board of Trustees.
Research the faculty senate or other academic governance bodies.
Identify influential student organizations and their leadership.
Analyzing Campus Climate
Review recent incidents related to antisemitism or other forms of discrimination on campus.
Assess the overall political and social climate on campus.
Understand the demographics of the student body, including the Jewish student population.
Research any existing initiatives or programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Identifying Potential Allies and Opposition
Look for student groups that might be natural allies (e.g., other minority or religious groups, free speech advocates).
Identify faculty members who have spoken out on related issues.
Research local community organizations that might support your cause.
Be aware of groups or individuals who might oppose your efforts.
Understanding Media Landscape
Familiarize yourself with campus media outlets (student newspaper, radio station, etc.).
Identify local media that covers campus issues.
Research which reporters typically cover higher education or campus issues.
Leveraging Institutional History
Research past incidents of antisemitism or related issues on your campus.
Understand how the administration has responded to similar situations in the past.
Look for precedents that might support your cause.
Assessing Legal Context
Understand relevant state laws that might impact campus policies or your advocacy efforts.
Be aware of any ongoing legal cases related to campus free speech or discrimination issues.