It is easy to publicise an event because there is less ground to cover, however, I have found that it takes much more effort to grab the student's interest. I think this is because the students naturally find social circles, living in an atmosphere dominated by peers. The most effective outreach is calling students and speaking with them.
The community here is also very diverse. About 50% of the campus comes from out of state, and about 60% of the Jewish community on campus is from out of state. This creates a wonderful opportunity for the students to learn from one another as well as an environment in which there is often conflict. It is important within Hillel to direct both sentiments in a positive beneficial direction.
The Madison community as a whole is truly unique. It is the state's capitol, so there is a very strong political presence, which harvests many demonstrations and protests. It is also a strong Midwest city, so there is a strong business-minded community here including some corporate headquater such as Oscar Mayer. There is also a sizeable group of people who are considered "liberal." This creates for quite an interesting community, and one in which people are comfortable expressing their opinions. The university plays a large role in the community as there are 40,000 students that hold various roles on a daily basis, from working at the local coffee shop to holding a position as an intern for a state congressman. The student's interest are as diverse as the community and the campus and the city intermingle closely with one another. It is important to keep all of this in mind, when meeting students and working with students. You are a representative of Hillel and the Jewish community, and as such should be aware of your daily interactions.
In addition, on a campus this size, students are bombarded with extracurricular activities. Our job, as engagement workers is to create a welcoming comfortable environment for students. It is also important that students know that Hillel here in Madison is what THEY make of it and that their ideas are welcomed. We try to work with students to create an opportunity for every student interest on campus.
Empowerment is an equally important tool in Madison, because it is essential for the students to feel a level of ownership within Hillel. With a campus this large it is often the case that students will over committ themselves and burn out. There is an immeasurable amount of opportunity for each student. We must be careful when empowering students, to take their personal lives in consideration. If you feel a student may be taking on too much, have them work out a schedule of their goals. What time frame do they have available and is it enough time to finish what they want to accomplish? It is more effective for them to come to their own conclusion regarding their limitations.
Finding the balance between empowerment and engagement is difficult, especially with freshmen who will take on almost anything and everything when they first begin their college tenure. I love it when students instantly want to become part of the Jewish community and Hillel here on campus, but it is very important that we are aware of what we, as a group, are asking from students. I believe it is important to create opportunity for every student willing to take advantage of what is available. However, I have also seen a few students accept responsibility from numerous staff people and experience a Hillel "burn-out." Sometimes the staff does not realize everything the student is involved with. Sometimes the student doesn't fully understand all that he or she has agreed to complete. We don't want the students to burn out, so they will particpate more in the long run.
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