How to support the students of Denison University's Homestead

Have you heard that Denison University is attempting to close the Homestead?

This is the place they’re trying to close.

It’s not closed yet, but the administration has made its intentions clear. Here are some actions you can take to help the students at Denison, so that we can prevent this from ending with handcuffs and bulldozers:

• Privately contact the powers that be at Denison to let them know that you don’t approve. Send emails, write letters, call phone numbers.

• Sign the petition created by the current residents of the Homestead. (As of this writing, it’s at 1,383 signatures. I think it should have 10,000; although please note that they are not collecting money via Change dot org.)

• Publicly express your concern over the intentions of the university. Use social media, review platforms, and whatever else you have at your disposal.

  • Some useful hashtags include #savethestead and #denison and #denisoneverywhere.

• Tell Denison you’re done giving them money.

• Join the Save the Stead’s movement’s mailing list.

• Follow the Homestead on Instagram and boost their efforts with your engagement.

• Directly reach out to the students and ask them what else you can do for them.

And there are other things we can do too.

Use your own specialty. If you’re a writer, write something. If you’re a filmmaker, make something. If you’re a donor to Denison, let them know you don’t intend to remain one. If you’re a journalist or a politician or lawyer or a marketer or a small business owner (and I know of Homestead alumni who are all of those things) then it’s time to find a way to use your skills and your influence to help these students.

This blog post is not the extent of my efforts. I have something deeper I’m writing about this situation, which will be live in the coming weeks.