
My office is just a few feet away from the famous UGM's Roundabout (aka.
Bunderan UGM), which is a popular venue for UGM students to protest against.... everything. So, everytime SBY's administration is proposing something, I have to hear annoying march and disturbing oration. It's not that I against them, because most of the time I go for their views. It takes quite sometime for me to realize what they are doing wrong. It's not the content that makes me sick, but the presentation that stirs me (and the rest of Jogja community) away.
We live in a world where package is everything. Where package overshadows the actual content. By saying that, I didn't mean that you should protest against Sumadi's appearing on Kedaulatan Rakyat collumn every single edition, and wearing a pink and cuddly outfit. For non Jogjakartans out there, Sumadi is the person who owns the largest selling newspaper in Jogja, Kedaulatan Rakyat. And yes, he appeared on every single edition of KR.
I'm saying that student protest should package their statement in an effective manner as possible to achive the ultimate goal(s). Shouting and yelling is not effective at all. It is, infact, very ineffective.
Therefore, I decided to write several tips for student protester out there on: 'How to protest in an effective way':
- You protest to raise awareness on certain issue to the public, press, or even better international community. Don't mix your personal sentiment to the government with the protest. It'll make you looking like an emotionally-unstable student who has no life. TIP: Try to appeal the public by doing something that appeals them (doh!). Don't give away flower becuse it is so overused and thus making it very ineffective.
Dress and groom nicely. The other day I saw a lead protester wearing a green army jacket that seems hasn't been washed since it was bought. And don't get me started how ugly the hair looks. You may think that people doesnt judge the way you look, but the truth is they DO. TIP: Take a bath before protesting. If you dont take a bath often, take a regular bath a week before protesting. Wash your hair. Put on some Nivea moisturizer (or even better: Body Shop's Tea Tree Oil Mattifying Moisture Gel&mdhash;pictured right) to enhance your skin's complexion. On P-day, wear a clean clothes. Tucking your shirts will helps.- Make a nice protest boards, because a good and visually engaging protest boards can be as effective as a good oration. Don't just write a lame-ass phrases and write it on a piece of cardboard. TIP: Ask a friend majoring in communication and/or graphic design to design a complete visual communication tools. It doesn't has to be expensive, but it has to be visually effective.
- Be a good PR. Practice your speech few days before protesting. As a friend who you think a good speeechwriter to help you wrting your speech.
- Drop happening-art. It sucks, weird, and making you looking like an emotionally-unstable student who has no life.
- Behave. Manner does matter. Act like a responsible adult.
- Be creative. Design an integrated concept for your protest. Create a distinct visual identity. This will helps people to recognize what you are fighting against.
Well thats about it. Happy Protesting!