One effective method of raising awareness about student rights on your campus is to invite a FIRE speaker to come speak at your campus. FIRE staffers regularly visit schools across the country to discuss student and faculty rights on campus and give real-life examples ridiculous and unconstitutional college speech codes.
PreparationFirst, request a FIRE speaker by emailing sean@thefire.org. Next, make logistical preparations by checking to make sure that you have confirmed all of the important details including date, time, and location for the event, and make sure the rooms are properly reserved. Reserve the room little for a time before and after the event to allow for set-up and clean-up. After these details are confirmed, you may return the signed contract back to FIRE. Once you have confirmed the lecture, you should begin preparing for the event. To make sure that the lecture is set up correctly:
AdvertisingA well-planned out advertising campaign is crucial to the success of your event. Be sure to follow all college policies with regards to advertising. If you have a concern that your school’s postering or flyering policy may be unduly restrictive or unconstitutional, submit a case or contact the CFN.
ExecutionThe reality of event planning is that no matter how much effort you put into planning your event, there are bound to be things that go wrong. By thinking ahead and following the tips above, you can avoid many common pitfalls of event planning. The days before the event should be spent making sure that everyone has completed their assigned tasks and that the event has been properly advertised. On the day of the event, make sure that someone is prepared to give the introduction, take pictures, usher guests, and handle the Q&A session. Keep in mind that a Q&A period can take up to 30 minutes and be prepared to cut it off if it drags on for too long. Make sure to tell attendees that they can talk to speaker after the event has concluded. Follow-upAfter the event, be sure to share any articles or news clippings that are published the event with FIRE. If you have taken pictures of the event, please e-mail them to CFNevents@thefire.org and if there was a video recorded, mention that in your e-mail. Be sure to process the honorarium and make any checks payable to “The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education”. If your school newspaper or any media sources covered your event, make sure to contact them to ensure accuracy and that the story gets published. Send out a thank you to your guests and give them some more information about other FIRE resources available. Event ChecklistBefore
Day of the Speech
After
|
Additional Resources
Customized Flyers
The CFN will provide customized flyers for your event. Although you certainly can and should create your own flyers, these sample flyers can help your ad campaign Although you certainly can and should create your own flyers, these sample flyers can help your ad campaign.
FIRE Materials
There are a number of CFN resources that can be made available to you when hosting an event. Among the resources that we can provide are free copies of FIRE Guides, Campus Freedom Network informational flyers, and FIRE brochures.
Press Releases
To help aid you in writing press releases to local and campus media, the CFN offers sample press releases and tips on crafting a release that will generate the most media exposure possible