Call-In Campaign Guide

Make sure to fill in this form to record their response.

They are likely to not answer the first time you call (or first three times), keep calling until they do, let’s see who gets the highest record of unanswered calls in a row! Typically they evade questions and ask you to send an email. Best to send an email first so we can press them on response time and urgency.

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Sample Introduction: Hi, I am [MIT affiliation, community member, etc.]. I read the recent article in the Tech and the Petition from Eastgate residents which brought my attention to the fact that MIT is prioritizing developing luxury housing instead of supporting student needs first. Will your office work to reopen the process for student input on these decisions and extend the decision deadline for the current residents of Eastgate? Will you set up a meeting with them ASAP to discuss their demands?

They may try to redirect you to email them instead, if they do, then emphasize that this is such an urgent issue with all of the people involved and that we demand that the process for student input be reopened. Also ask what the expected response time over email will be because the deadline is fast approaching.

If they ask you to send an email, say you already did (they will then ask for your name), or say you will write one right after the call, then say:

I sent an email and still haven’t gotten any response, this is a tight timeline and the students affected need a response as soon as possible. You are playing with their lives right now and that is absolutely unacceptable. When will we get a response?

If you want to keep pushing them, then ask one of these questions to them below.

- How does MIT justify charging such astronomical rates on MIT grad housing? How is a 63% rent hike justifiable?

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- Most students and all my friends can not afford this. Who is this new housing meant for at MIT?

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- Why has MIT failed to provide students with affordable housing? Is this not critical to student well-being?

- Why is Eastgate being torn down? What is it being replaced with? What priority does this reflect for MIT?

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- Did you attempt to get input from the student population about this issue? What kind of input? Did you talk to them about prices and rent increases?

Remember to fill in this form to record their response. Thank you!