5 Things I Learned From Starting College Students for Bernie
On a dreary April morning, I woke up, grabbed my laptop, and began scrolling through Facebook. I had just recovered from a concussion (from the most classic Vermont moment ever — slipping on the ice). In my notifications, I received an invite to Like “Chicago Students for Hillary”. Instead of clicking on it, I hit the “Create a Page” button and made “College Students for Bernie” and “Middlebury Students for Bernie”.
Little did I know that these pages would spur the creation of a network with over 200 colleges around the US, a phenomenon noted on the front page of the New York Times. The ongoing process has challenged me mentally, physically, and spiritually. Although I had done some organizing work in the past, CSFB was the first time that I organized politically for a presidential campaign. Today, CSFB is a reflection of each individual who has contributed to it, something much bigger and beyond myself. This is what I’ve learned from this eye-opening, crazy, frustrating, rewarding experience thus far.
1. Build the courage to take on something big. It will take you on an adventure.
When I first created the two Facebook pages — Middlebury Students for Bernie and College Students for Bernie, I wasn’t sure which one I wanted to keep. At first, I was inclined to just get rid of College Students for Bernie because it was so big, so vast, something I felt like I wouldn’t be able to handle. Middlebury Students for Bernie appealed to me because it was niche, and I would be able to run everything on campus.
However, after talking to my friend Nate Rifkin and coming up with the chapter model together, where each school would have their own group for Bernie on campus, I decided to step up to the national organizing challenge. Worst-case scenario, we fall back to Midd for Bernie idea. But the worst-case scenario never happened. I just grew and learned more about how to handle larger organizations.
2. All your previous experiences and connections will come in handy in weird ways.
When I was in high school, I started the Fashion for Compassion club, which is a far cry from CSFB. Yet, a lot of the organizing principles were very similar — working with others, finding opportunities, etc.
Coming to Middlebury College in the middle of Vermont (from Shanghai, China) was definitely a move I didn’t expect. Yet, being there put me in a position where I would know about Bernie early and know people who supported him to start the organization together. This made me realize how important it is to have the right idea in the right place at the right time, while also having the right skills to back it up. So much of this is up to chance and luck. The only thing that is practically within your control is having the skills, coming up with the idea, and working your butt off.
3. Individuals in positions of authority may frustrate/disappoint/discourage you — Focus on your beliefs and values.
It is hard to continue to work when people you looked up to do not value your contributions. Although some interactions with the campaign have been positive (see #5), there were two moments that were especially bad:
After asking for Action Network funding, the software that we use to organize college students, a few of us heavily involved with CSFB got on a call with the Digital Director of the Bernie campaign. Instead of talking about how we could best integrate College Students for Bernie into the campaign, he didn’t listen to anything we said, talked down on us, and kept accusing us of “fracturing the movement with our own network” (even though CSFB pre-dated the campaign’s organizing software for college students and already gave him all of our contacts). I came into the call excited to cooperate with him, and came out of the call in tears.**
About a month later, I was asked to take two days to fly down to DC to be part of the college student live broadcast and talk about my experiences. Hotel and travel covered by the campaign. I told my professors, friends, and family to watch. Two days before the day I was supposed to be in DC, I inquired about my travel plans and they told me that the Senior Advisor of the campaign, had changed his mind. I wouldn’t be going. Other students who were already in DC would take my place because they hadn’t bought the tickets yet. I had to go back and tell those who were closest to me about the disappointing news. I felt completely disposable.*
These experiences made me feel extremely alienated from the progressive movement in America. Yet, as I continued to organize, I realized that my work isn’t for these “Directors of xyz important thing”. It’s for the college students and activists that I talk to on the day to day. It’s for a comprehensive healthcare system for all Americans and creating a path to pursue our dreams without the crippling weight of student debt. All of these values and the fact that CSFB has done so much to get everyday college students involved with the Bernie campaign are far more important than getting the glorious applause of a few who were not even at the organization’s conception. I couldn’t have gone through this hump without … See #5.
4. Media is a finicky mistress.
Media has helped the organization grow in unimaginable ways. The first feature on The Daily Kos gave rise to at least 30 chapters. At the same time, I’m just shocked how inaccurate many portrayals in media are. You can have a twenty minute conversation with a journalist, who, at the end, may take a phrase or a sentence out of the entire interaction. Sometimes without context.
Often, they are looking for a person who occupies a specific set of identity traits (ex. college student of color living in New Hampshire). More interactions with the media has made me realize how so many stories are intentionally constructed, crafted to serve and entertain an audience. You just have to be at the right place at the right time.
5. There are so many inspiring and amazing young people that will change the world one day — for the better.
Through College Students for Bernie, I have met so many progressive activists that have taught and guided me in so many ways. They have brought so much interesting new technology (Action Network, Slack, Wiki, etc) as well as events to pull off as a collective — it makes me really excited to see all the competent, smart, dedicated millenials (and young souls) out there! I learned that you don’t have to do everything yourself (and quite honestly, you shouldn’t) because there is probably someone out there who is equally passionate (and can do it better) that you should collaborate with. Just to name a few:
I would like to thank Zack and Claire from the campaign for first contacting College Students for Bernie, listening to what we had to offer, and being excited for us. Sam as well! Your hard work inspires me. Ben Packer — tech genius and it is so interesting how you can mix your technical skills with political organizing. I don’t think we get each other’s humor, but we definitely have similar visions. Moumita Ahmed — you are such a go getter and always encourage me when times are rough. You make me more ambitious and have the best ideas. Joseph Nunez, Maximillian Cotterill, Justen, Chloe Feng and chapters in California — came in early and made some impressive contributions such as www.BerniePB.com! Alex Forgue, Harley Tonelli, Bridget Silha, JT, Elia, Niko, Jackrabbit and many, many more (you know who you are). Finally, Nate and Middlebury crew — thanks for sticking it out since the beginning.
*After I sent an email expressing my frustrations, the Senior Advisor later called and apologized.
**The Director has also apologized in an email and we are clearing things up. I appreciate both of your actions.
(Note: These are a few of my observations and by no means comprehensive or reflect the views of the College Students for Bernie organization. There are also amazing people that I’ve worked with that I haven’t gotten the chance to mention and thank in the article. I would like to extent my gratitude for everyone who has contributed to this experience. Let’s expand progressive activism in America together!)
Edit(s): I have taken out the exact names of the directors under point #3. This was supposed to be an honest reflection for myself, but it has since been a bit more politicized and perceived as coming from a place of resentment. I don’t resent anyone, I just want to share my experiences in an honest way.
More Edit: Replaced “mansplained” with “talked down on” in the article — Less loaded language but still gets my point across.
My next post will be my thoughts on how we can improve CSFB and make it organized more effectively for progressive action.
