Credit: Bama Students for Life
Tabling provides an opportunity for your group to build your presence on campus and directly answer the questions and needs of students’ who may need pregnancy and parenting support. It’s a great time to talk to your peers about campus support– and discuss ideas for improving your campus!
What You Need
Having good materials on your table will help build your credibility, and it will allow your group members to directly address the needs of your peers. Here are items that you should collect for tabling:
- Banner, poster, or display board clearly identifying your table
- Clipboarding sheets for potential members
- Information about your Pregnant on Campus Initiative (e.g. a display board, brochures, business cards)
- Several copies of your “Resource Guide for Pregnant and Parenting Students”
- Copies of Title IX handouts to explain legal rights and accommodations (found here)
- Pregnancy tests in paper bags with cards that list resources for both pregnancy assistance and STI testing
- Materials that explain pregnancy
- Materials that offer pregnancy and parenting resources
- Materials that offer post-abortive healing and support
- Freebies (e.g. candy, pens, baked goods)
How To
- Pick a date and time. You will want to pick a time period of at least 2 hours to allow for good exposure. Lunch hours are great to reach more students.
- Reserve space on campus. Pick a high-traffic place such as the Student Union or the main route(s) to academic buildings.
- Gather your materials. Make sure that you have information for pregnant, parenting, and post-abortive students.
- Assign members to cover all tabling hours. You should have at least 2 members at the table at all times. (Preferably at least 1 female at all times.)
- Set up a table on campus to promote your Pregnant on Campus Initiative
Improve Your Tabling
- SMILE! You want to appear friendly and approachable.
- Avoid sitting behind the table. It is better to stand and interact with passersby.
- Assign 1-2 member(s) to approach passing students with your literature and to encourage students to check out your table.
- Invite staff representatives from your local pregnancy resources center and/or post-abortive healing program to ensure that you have trained professionals on hand if needed.
Signage
Make sure that your table signs are easy to read. Use bold fonts and contrasting colors so that students can read them at a distance. Recommended slogans or messaging for your table signs include:
- Pregnant? Parenting? We support YOU
- We support pregnant & parenting students
- Students for Life supports pregnant & parenting students
- How can we better support pregnant & parenting students?
- Equal educational access for pregnant & parenting students
- Free resources for pregnant & parenting students
- Ask us @ pregnancy & parenting resources!
- Ask us @ how we can help your pregnant friend
- What do you know about pregnancy support on campus?
Interactive Elements
Add a poll question, activity, or prize to encourage more engagement from passers-by. Interactive ideas include:
- Host a “I Support” photo frame booth
- Encourage students to post a sticky note or message on a Free Speech Board
- Create a social media event with students holding up signs for your group FB saying why they support pregnant and parenting students
- Write Letters of Support to local moms
- Ask students to write what they learned about resources on 2 signs (“I knew” / “I didn’t know”)
Helpful Tip
When passing out pregnancy tests, keep the tests in opaque bags on the far corner of the table (closest to passers-by). This makes it less awkward for students wishing to discreetly take a test.