Forming A Student Pagan Group
by Phoenix
So we are all excited to be in University! We have been accepted and we are going to the place where we wish to study for the next 3-4 years. When you researched the institution, you probably researched what type of degree or diploma you would receive, and you probably researched what the student life is like at this higher place of learning, and you probably decided to join the local Pagan group. . .WAIT! Hold on one minute! The place I plan to attend doesn't have a Pagan group!
This isn't necessarily a problem. Most universities and colleges have somewhat complex procedures for starting a student group. This can usually be found out by going to the Students' Services office or checking with your Students' Union. This is where you begin to tread cautiously.
Before you begin, take out a piece of paper. First I want you to write the name of your group at the top. If you don't have a name, then just write "Pagan Student Group." Next, brainstorm what goals and objectives you would like your group to have for 10 minutes AT THE MOST. Now put that piece of paper away and don't come back to it for 24 hours. When you do come back to it, you will likely get even more ideas and you will have a place to start from.
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Most places require you to get a certain number of students to sign up before they will recognize your group.
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If you are not out of the broom closet, #1 could be a problem. From my own experience, I did an interview with the Campus
newspaper to gain attention. It worked. However, everyone will know you are Pagan. (Especially if you live at home while
attending university or college.) In addition, some campus papers offer free classified ads. TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THESE!
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Should you do an interview, also place posters telling people how to contact you. MAJOR WARNING: NEVER, EVER post your
phone number or address!!! The best idea, which has been somewhat successful, is putting up an e-mail address from
somewhere like hotmail or canada.com, etc. A
pre-determined meeting time and place would also work. Make sure it is a very public place, with lots of security! And
make sure there is a contact for people who may not be able to attend. (We held our meeting in a public place on campus;
however it was only announced over our e-mail list once people contacted me.)
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4.
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Go to one of those free web page providers such as geocities or angelfire and get some free web
space. Your web page doesn't have to be fancy, but it is something you can put on your posters and where people can go for
more information. DO NOT forget the guestbook! International visitors are great for signing it and then you get the
chance to brag about the support.
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5.
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People WILL take down your posters! Even if your institution requires you to get approval to place posters, and you
gain permission (this may be a hurdle in itself. . .), you will end up putting up more and more posters. Be prepared to
make more photocopies. If there are several of you, this will be easier, especially if you have to pay for the
photocopies. (Keep all your receipts!!! When your group is formed, you may get some funding and you can get back your
money.)
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6.
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PEOPLE WILL QUIT! Pressure will get to people who support you. They will drop out due to rumors about your group,
and they will drop out for "emergency" reasons. (Emergency reasons may be legitimate, so take excuses with a grain of
salt.)
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I have encountered a lot of people who like the idea of the group and want to attend our meetings. . . but they won't
sign their name on the dotted line. This could be a problem if your institution requires a certain number of people to
form the group. Before you approach people, have in hand a plan for your group, and especially an answer to the question
"WHAT IS PAGANISM". You will get asked this a lot, and a good answer may just get you that signature.
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VACANT OFFICES! I am not referring to the office of the Chancellor of your institution. Many places may require you
to form your executive before you go for approval. Sometimes they want the executive to appear before them to answer
questions. (This will likely be a big deal when the Students' Union recognizes you.) So you may have trouble getting
people to take on an office on your executive. This may be due to (a) fear of retribution and (b) a lot of school work!
Find out if the people who do volunteer are allowed to hold more than one office until someone else can take over one of
them.
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PACE YOURSELF. Please, whatever you do, don't let the group take up too much of your time. This can cause several
problems which you may not anticipate. (a) Your own school work may suffer, and this is not a good thing. You want to be
around next year so you can enjoy the group you worked so hard to form. (b) You will spend a lot of energy as it is and
you don't need to expend more, because if your bid to start the group fails (which is possible for lots of reasons) then
you will be disappointed and let down, and the energy you aren't using anymore hasn't been grounded or anything, so your
body may start to feel the effects.
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FIND OTHER GROUPS. If there are other institutions in the city where yours is, check if they have a group. Usually
they won't have a problem if you join theirs (should yours fail. . .), plus they are a great source of knowledge on how to
start your own.
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When you are going for approval, be sure to watch out for taboos. At the institution I attend, there is a big taboo
towards outside support. They don't like anyone interfering with how they work.
Watch out for the reverse too. Perhaps the place will want you to go out and get support from outside. In this case, have
several sources in mind. This isn't a bad idea even if it is a taboo, as likely they are just ignorant and it may open
their eyes. Should you do this, get it in letter form, that is, in writing. Another taboo may be getting support from
inside the institution, such as another student group. If they don't want you to do it, in this case, don't. If they do
(some places require feedback from other groups. . .), then go out and actively seek assistance.
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CONSTITUTIONS: Many places will ask you for one. They are a great idea! When you draft yours, be sure to include a
"Statement of Faith "or "Articles of Faith". This will save you a lot of trouble and is a good public relations tool!
(A good place to start is the "Principles of Belief for the Council of American Witches.") The best place to get ideas
for your constitution is none other than other student groups! Take a look around the net, and take a look at the
constitution of the other groups around campus. They are great resources!
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Regardless, your chances of finding fellow Wiccans at college are pretty good — assuming you're willing to be
"findable" yourself. Decide whether or not you're comfortable with being open and honest about your faith and about
whether you're willing to put up with the misconceptions and occasional acts of prejudice. Think about it VERY HARD.
College is difficult enough without having to deal with uninformed people who accuse you of being a Satanist. ("Wicca:
the College Years," Shawn Michael Connelly.)
Be prepared to fight for what you believe in. . . especially if you live in a small town. Most of the larger institutions
should be open-minded enough for you not to have to go through a lot of hurdles and pain to start your group. But this
isn't always the case. Be prepared with information and be well versed before you go before any committees, boards etc.,
to gain approval.
Try to avoid saying "I don't know". If you honestly don't know, give it your best guess, especially if it combats any
myths, but don't lie. If you know you will be lying, then it is the time to say "I don't know". Lying will just ruin
both your reputation and any credibility your group may have, should they be approved.
When you first start the process, find out what you are and are not allowed to do. This is important because (a) you may
do something that is a no-no, and (b) you may find out a way of doing something that you didn't think of. Ask as many
questions as you can! These people are there to help you and they are full of knowledge and resources!
Also, as you are following these steps, don't go 'looking for a fight' or expecting to find discrimination at every
corner; and realize that the same rules do indeed apply to your group as apply to any other. If discrimination happens,
you'll have to deal with it. But one benefit of following the instructions 'to the letter' is that if you're doing it
right no one can deny you the opportunity to start this group. If they do, you have a legitimate complaint to whatever
higher authority you take it to. If you sincerely and openly explain to the student activities powers-that-be what your
group is, what Paganism is, and why you want to start the group, you'll probably be fine. ("So You Want to Start a Student
Group," by Doug O'Neal.)
Should your group not be approved, don't worry about it. You are still a group of students attending that institution, so
get together anyway. There are benefits to being recognized, but no one is saying that you cannot exist even if you are
not recognized. Just be patient and in time the Goddess will help you find the way to being recognized. It may take a
little time and much patience, but in the end it will be worth it.
For any high school or secondary school students: The above process for starting a group is likely easier at your
school. Many schools only require you to get a teacher advisor/supervisor and not nearly as many signatures, if any at
all. If you wish to start a group in high school, go for it!
A really good resource:
So You Want to Start a Pagan Student Group? by Doug O'Neal from Penn State Silver Circle.
Now jump through the hoops and run after the elephants, and may the Goddess guide you well on your journey to start YOUR
campus Pagan group!
Blessed Be and good journey.
Phoenix
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