NOW Acts: Students CAN get active

When student activists contacted the National Organization for Women to start a group on their campus, until now, we could only offer them one option-a NOW chapter. A fine choice when possible, but starting a full-fledged NOW chapter typically did not meet the needs of young women or the campus requirements for a student group. All too often, despite our best efforts, their first call to us was also their last-a significant loss to our organization.

Nearly 80 million people in the U.S. are between ages 15 and 30-the biggest boom since the "Baby Boom" that began in the 1940s. If just a fraction of this generation became involved in NOW, imagine how much more change our organization could have in the world.

Since many campus groups could not meet our policy requirements for starting chapters, we began looking for a middle ground between our by-law requirements and the needs , of student activists. From that void, the idea of the NOW Campus Action Network (NOW CAN) was born.

With this new program, student activists can form groups on their campuses-both college and high school-and promote NOWs multi-issue agenda by doing what they most desire: taking action!

"We strongly encourage feminist students to take on full chapter status if that's possible, but we're determined to provide them with flexible options that get them involved and mobilized," said NOW President Kim Gandy.

In the past, some college students managed to operate a NOW chapter on their campus with little difficulty, but that scenario became more the exception than the rule. Over the years, student governing bodies on campuses across the country set requirements, making it increasingly harder for student activists to launch a NOW chapter as a student organization.

Some campuses restrict membership to only full-time college students. Some restrict groups' involvement with certain issues, such as prohibiting pro-choice actions on campus. Other campuses simply bar local subunits of national organizations. Some campuses forbid student groups from charging participants any fees to join. Many reported that their classmates found paying dues to be a deterrent. Therefore, we require no membership or registration fees to join or charter a NOW CAN.

To start a NOW CAN, a group of students need only to register their group online at the NOW CAN portion of our web site or call the Action Center at 202-628-8669.

Upon registration, the group receives a copy of a NOW CAN Organizing Manual. The group then decides on a structure for their NOW CAN that best meets their needs and campus requirements. The structure can be modeled after groups on their campus or from sample structures explained in the NOW CAN manual. Once a structure has been chosen, the group names a leader to be their spokesperson on campus, as well as the liaison between the group and the Action Center. NOW CANs then submit a copy of their student charter and goals for the year. From then on, the group submits monthly updates online to keep the Action Center aware of the group's progress, concerns and participants.

In some ways, NOW CANs function much like NOW chapters by holding regular meetings and organizing actions. To help integrate NOW CANs into the organization, student activists have access to a host of resources. The NOW website can provide them with information specific to organizing a NOW CAN, as well as the issues on which to take action. In fact, while visiting our website to find information on NOW CAN, quite a few NOW CAN organizers joined NOW as members. Action Center staff members are available to address questions or concerns or provide help with organizing and planning actions. Upon registration, NOW CANs are connected with the president or coordinator of their state to help bring all of the groups together.

We look forward to collaborating with NOW CANs. By combining their energy and fresh ideas with the strong grassroots network built by our chapters, we'll continue the fight to achieve equality for all women.

by Barbara Hays

Chapter Development Director

Copyright National Organization for Women, Inc. Spring 2005
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