How to Bring Speakers to Campus
Interested in introducing libertarian ideas to students on your campus? One of the best ways is to bring in a dynamic speaker. A lecture followed by a Q&A session or an engaging panel discussion with speakers of other ideological persuasions can be great catalysts for discussion.
What type of speaking event will work for your group?
While a well-known speaker will certainly draw a crowd, there are other ways to get your event noticed. Choosing a controversial topic like the legalization of drugs or the separation of school and state can be just as effective at generating interest on campus.
You might also consider a panel format. Busy experts may be more likely to accept an invitation to be part of a panel discussion, as it saves them from having to prepare a lengthy speech. Panels also allow for more in-depth conversation, which tends to create opportunities to tease out nuances among various positions on an issue. Often, this can lead to a richer learning experience.
What sorts of people make good speakers? Consider the following:
- Journalists: Keep an eye on local news stories. Look for coverage that is appealing to your group and invite the writer to come speak.
- Policy specialists: Invite an expert from a national or state-based think tank.
- Local scholars: A professor from your school (or one in close proximity) may accept an invitation to speak, especially if she has recently published something that would be interesting to your group or campus body.
How do you go about planning your event?
1. Decide on a topic.
- With your fellow group members, choose a topic or issue for the event, then determine who is both a good public speaker and has enough clout on the issue. Conversely, if you know who you'd like to invite but are not quite sure of the specific topic, you can work out the details in discussions with the speaker.
2. Reserve the room.
- It's good to get your room squared away well in advance so another group does not reserve it. If the speaker declines or asks for a change in date or venue, you can always reschedule.
- Touch base with the office on your campus that handles room reservations. Be sure to reserve a room that is a good size—it's bad form to have a room that seats 500 if only 50 people attend. Conversely, you do not want 500 people to show up to a room that only seats 50.
- Typically, if your organization is a registered student group, there is no fee associated with reserving the room. Also, note what sorts of audio/visual equipment the venue has available.
3. Contact the speaker.
- Obtain contact information for the proposed speaker. Call or send an email clearly stating the reason for your contact. Here is an example you are free to modify and use. If your first choice declines, email him about recommendations for other speakers.
- If you are interested in someone from a state-based think tank, check out the State Policy Network's directory.
4. Determine audio/visual needs.
- Once your date and topic are set, be sure to investigate what sorts of audio/visual equipment, if any, will be needed. Check with the room reservation folks to ensure that the equipment is available and that you will have access on the date of your event. You may also want to have a staff member provide you with a quick training session on the use of the equipment to ensure there are no snags during the event.
5. Market the event.
- Hang flyers on bulletin boards at the appropriate departments on campus. A speech on US foreign policy, for example, will likely appeal to political science and history students, as well as some philosophy and economics students. Know that you may have to get approval to hang flyers from the department or the school itself.
- Start a Facebook group, if your organization does not already have one, to host information and updates.
- Send a Facebook message to people at your school who identify as "libertarian" in their Political Views.
- Ask your professors if you can have a minute at the end of class to make an announcement. Most will be more than happy to accommodate.
- Write and submit an op-ed to your school paper about the event. You will have a much greater chance of being published if your op-ed shows how the issue is relevant to those on campus.
- Consider reaching out beyond your campus to local libertarian groups or organizations that deal with some aspect of the issue. For example, if the speaker will address the harms of drug prohibition, consider touching base with area groups that advocate for drug policy reform.
6. Have a successful event!
- Ask the speaker how he or she would like to be introduced. Many can provide you with a short biography.
- Be sure to place a sign-up sheet at the door so you can let attendees know about future events and meetings. Also, you may want to offer some literature about your group (its purpose, meeting times, etc.).
- It's unrealistic to think that, in the space of one event, everyone in the audience will be persuaded to embrace libertarianism. Consider your event a success if you know that just one individual was turned on by what was said. It's very rewarding to know that you and your organization played an integral part in helping someone value reason and liberty over scare tactics and coercion.
