Bring fliers to political events and meetings. You will find a crowd that is more naturally interested than just random people. I've had success at the "Liberally Drinking" meetings held in NYC - in bars, with Liberals. And at all kind of events. The larger group has made up large signs and put them next to a table with books and CD's which we sell. Which has begun to work out very well, (Must remind myself to post the pics when I get a chance.)

It's also fine to approach people cold, with no framing event that filters to a more supposed sympathetic population. But don't get people when they are coming home from work, tired , or busy. Get them when they are relaxing, on a day off. The farmer's market day at Union Square here or the days with vendors around and people hanging out are good sometimes. Isn't there a commons there? Are there ever fairs on the weekends? Anytime is good. But some times are better than others. With the right attitude you will find you can work a flier and a conversation in almost anywhere, under any circumstances. But not when people are rushing home from work. I've found subways are not good, people are not receptive there, perhaps because people feel trapped, and also there is no privacy, everyone can watch everyone in close quarters, so they are not relaxed enough. IMO

If you need pictures of the info signs, let me know. They work really well.

If only one person is there, people are more wary (unless if your a female - which sometimes can work in itself :)). I've noticed if there is a crowd of us, we are, in general, much more successfull. The synergism factor. You do better as a group than each individual alone, if you added them all up.

If you are by yourself, some people, I guess, assume you are a loser - even if it's subconscious on their part. If there is a lot of people they want to find out what is going on. It seems exciting. Even if the thing going on is in the background and has nothing necessarily to do with 9/11 activism - i.e. The world can't wait event for example. That proved great as a backdrop for handing out leaflets - not to anti-war folks even, but to the public. We were just lumped in with the excitment over the World Can't Wait.

So even if you can get a friend to hang with you and chat or whatever, while you do it....? You're less likely to be pegged as a lone nut.

I would imagine kids attending Harvard work very hard so don't have time to look into it. Or if they do, would be pressed for time and so would hesitate finding out about anything that would end up being taxing. So I would approach it first as an intellectual exercise. Something interesting. Not something that has to be acted upon. If you can get a nexus of students together, attracting more will be much easier. The first two or three to join with you will be the hardest.

What about a local group not associatied per se with the University? I've noticed here in NYC we are more popular with old fogey activists than with students. I bet there are a few old fogey activists still around that neighborhood, or even professors, who you could get to help out who are from the community at large?

Maybe take a small ad for a meeting in the community and among students? A showing of a DVD?

Some have suggested carrying a Blackberry that will show video clips and load it with the fall of Building 7. You can keep it with you and show it anywhere. The collapse of one of the Towers might also be worthwhile to show. To have them look and think about it.

"In matters of science, the authority of thousands is not worth the humble reasoning of one single person."
- Galileo Galilei