Peace Accord Campaign - Strategy and Talking Points

There are many different ways to approach this project depending on your primary goals, your abilities, and the political atmosphere on your campus.

Here are some suggestions drawn from Conference Call #2 on December 14th . Universities represented on the call included University of Wisconsin-Madison; Oberlin College (Ohio); Carleton University (Ottawa, Ontario); University of Michigan (Ann Arbor); University of Maryland (College Park) and University of Toronto.

Two Main Contrasting Strategies for the Peace Accord Process
1) Sustained and In-Depth: Approach the process as a learning exercise that enables the group to research and evaluate different peace accord models. Set up regular dialogue meetings with interested participants that will engage texts of peace accords and related materials. Pinpoint the strengths, weaknesses and loopholes in various peace models and draw from those in cultivating your own document.
2) Critical Mass: Approach the peace accord with the lowest common denominator in mind, so many people can agree to the terms and you get as many signatures as possible. Less emphasis on the process and more emphasis on the product.

Outreach / Publicity

Personally approach individuals, acquaintances and friends on campus about the project and how they can get involved

Formally invite specific student groups to participate. This can strengthen the project’s profile by getting groups to endorse the campaign

Personally (informally) approach individuals from groups to participate (without the expectation that they will get their entire group to sign on)

Publicize through provocative posters and flyers

Talk to professors and campus professionals (i.e. Hillel Directors, Muslim Student Association chapter presidents) about being involved in the project

Talk to professors about introducing the project in classrooms and see if there are professors interested in acting as point-people/mediators/references

Get the campaign publicized on as many list serves and email lists as possible

Get various academic departments (PolySci, Middle East, History, Religion, etc) to publicize, discuss and engage the campaign