[hackerspaces] Is making alliances with education institutions good for a hacekrspace?

[Ben Brown]

I hear that. We never inquired about promotion on-campus, because they 
tend to insulate their students within the six square blocks around the 
University, which we aren't in.

For us, it usually boils down to one word: Insurance.

(as in we have it, but they require twelve months notice and nine 
committees to sign off on it just to give us the time of day)

Ben

On 10/16/2013 3:56 PM, Randall G. Arnold wrote:
> I can't say all of our experiences have been great. University 
> bureaucracy has gotten in the way of our efforts, too.  Very 
> frustrating.  Typical scenario:
> Me: I would like to connect your students with creative opportunities. 
> We have equipment, resources, etc... just need an introduction to your 
> students.
> College outreach officer: sounds like a lot of work for us.
> *sigh*
>> On October 16, 2013 at 2:44 PM Ben Brown <ben at generik.ca> wrote:
>>
>> Kwartzlab has tried to work with other local organizations, with 
>> varying results. We've tried to partner up with one of our local 
>> university for events, but their ridiculously bureaucratic nature has 
>> prevented us every time. At this point, I have no plans to try 
>> anything else with them.
>>
>> That said, we have partnered up with local grassroots arts and 
>> technology organizations for various events/causes to great success. 
>> We've also leveraged this community participation/recognition for an 
>> arts grant that bought us our laser cutter in 2010, and a provincial 
>> equipment grant from the Ontario Trillium Fund (provides 
>> no-strings-attached money to non-profits).
>>
>> We don't affiliate with organizations that have strings attached. We 
>> don't allow outside organizations to steer our space and it's future. 
>> We would not accept large donations or equipment from outside 
>> organizations in return for administrative control of our space. We 
>> remain independent.
>>
>> Ben
>>
>> On 10/16/2013 1:52 PM, Florencia Edwards wrote:
>>> I wanted to ask you what you guys think about this. At our 
>>> hackerspace people who manage it are trying to make some strategic 
>>> alliances with universities, schools, culture centers... But I think 
>>> it's not good. A hackerspace is an alternative to this institutions 
>>> and methods of education. Making an alliance only makes this 
>>> institutions try to use the hackerspace their way (they have more 
>>> power), trying to preasure us to adapt to their methods of 
>>> education, what their students need, special workshops... I don't 
>>> know. Maybe I'm wrong, . I love everyone to know about a makerspace 
>>> or hackerspace and to come here to explore, but this institutions 
>>> have a way of imposing or forcing things...
>>> Do any of you have experience with school or collages, are they 
>>> good? Can you give me some advice?
>>> Cheers all
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>

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