In his message to the campus community, Dooley offers information about new events planned following Tuesday's election and an overview of other opportunities for members of the campus community.
Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
Ahead of Election Day tomorrow, we have an update to our post-election plans. Elon President Connie Book and SGA President Robbie Miley have a special video message for the community available here.
This message describes the many events and initiatives planned for the coming days and weeks and additional resources can be found on the “Post-Election Resources” tab of the Elon Votes! website.
Vote Tuesday
Information about voting and Election Day resources is available on the Elon Votes! website. A student shuttle to the polls will be running from the Center for the Arts from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Commitment to Wellness and Well-Being
Continuing to support physical and emotional well-being remains a top priority during this stressful period. Campus Recreation and Wellness, Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, and Counseling Services will continue their regular schedule of mindfulness and well-being classes and programs. Counseling Services will have additional clinicians available for appointments in the final weeks of the semester. In addition, Campus Recreation and Wellness facilities will not broadcast post-election news coverage on the TV monitors from Nov. 3 through the end of the semester in order to provide opportunities to disconnect from media stressors. A number of Student Life offices are creating drop-in spaces for reflection and conversation this week, as listed below.
Commitment to Physical Safety
We recognize that members of our community have concerns about acts of hatred and their physical safety in this period leading up to the election, and afterward. University officials, including Campus Safety and Police, are continuing to work with the Town of Elon and other agencies to ensure safety on campus and we will actively monitor any developments in the coming days. E. Haggard Ave. will be closed from Tuesday evening, November 3 at 9:00 p.m. until Thursday morning, November 5 at 7:00 a.m. for the public art project described below. Phoenix Drive will also be closed Tuesday and Wednesday evening from 6 p.m. to midnight and other times as necessary.
Elon University Campus Police and Town of Elon Police will have extra officers on duty throughout this week – if you sense a threat to campus or yourself, please immediately call 911 or Campus Safety and Police at 336-278-5555. Be sure you are signed up for E-Alert Notification System using the information available here, since we will use E-Alert to notify the community of any disruptions that affect campus.
Commitment to Ongoing Dialogue and Expression
Faculty and staff are encouraged to review the information on supporting post-election conversations in classrooms and student meetings, which was shared via email on October 23 by Dr. Carrie Eaves, Faculty Fellow for Civic Engagement. Colleagues in the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning, Center for Equity and Inclusive Excellence, and the Council on Civic Engagement stand ready to support you in those efforts.
We know that students have been engaged in student activism over the course of the summer and fall, including participating in demonstrations and protests. To provide information in the coming days, the Center for Leadership has added two additional sessions in its workshop series on sustained activism, with details listed below. The University’s Statement of Commitment to the Values of Freedom of Expression and Inclusivity can be found in the student handbook here, and the Council on Civic Engagement has developed guidelines for political activities and student demonstrations. Information for individuals considering participating in protests or demonstrations, including those occurring off-campus, are included among the resources found online here.
Planned Events
Several events and drop-in locations are planned for the days and weeks after the election, including:
Hopes for the Future: Public Art Project
Wednesday, November 4, E. Haggard Ave., between Scott Plaza and Young Commons
As our community and nation come together after a highly contentious election season, we have many hopes for our collective future. Share your hopes for the future by writing on the large display boards or directly on the street. The project is inspired by the work of artist Candy Chang.
Sponsored by the Division of Student Life
Post-Election Reflection and Conversation Spaces
Wednesday, November 4 – Friday, November 6, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Student Life spaces available and staffed throughout the week for drop-in reflection and conversation:
- CREDE & El Centro
- Gender & LGBTQIA Center
- Kernodle Center for Civic Life
- Numen Lumen Pavilion (reflection/meditation) & Sklut Hillel Center
Several centers will also host additional in-person or virtual drop-in opportunities, with details posted on their websites, newsletters, or social media.
Protesting: Understanding Your Rights
Thursday, November 5, 12:00 p.m., Register Online Here
This leadership workshop, part of the series “Good Trouble: Sustained Activism,” will provide participants with information on protester safety, rights and responsibilities as well as the various ways to engage in protest and demonstration activity.
Sponsored by the Center for Leadership
After the Vote: Political Science Faculty Panel Discussion
Thursday, November 5, 4:15 p.m., Zoom Link
Join faculty members from the Department of Political Science and Policy Studies to learn more about the 2020 general election results. Faculty will break down where things stand as votes are still being counted in the presidential election. Faculty will also discuss the outcome of competitive senate and gubernatorial races as well as what these results mean for the future.
Sponsored by the Department of Political Science and Policy Studies
Post-Election Wellness and Opportunities Panel
Monday, November 9, 4:00-5:00pm, Zoom Link
In the wake of the November election, Dr. Mark Eades from Counseling Services will host a virtual panel to help support student well-being. Dr. Eades will share thoughts and resources to promote wellness, and moderate a panel designed to highlight opportunities for students to engage in organizations and programs that will allow them to become more active citizens and contributors to civic life. Panelists will include students and staff from Student Involvement, College Republicans, College Democrats, Elon Volunteers!, and the Kernodle Center for Civic Life.
Sponsored by Counseling Services and the Kernodle Center for Civic Life
Protesting: Understanding Your Rights
Wednesday, November 11, 7:00 p.m., Register Online Here
This leadership workshop, part of the series “Good Trouble: Sustained Activism,” will provide participants with information on protester safety, rights, and responsibilities as well as the various ways to engage in protest and demonstration activity.
Sponsored by the Center for Leadership
2020 Election Faculty/Staff Reflection
Friday, November 13, 1:50 – 2:50 p.m., Zoom Link, (Zoom Passcode: Elect2020)
Whatever the outcome of the election, chances are that our campus community will benefit from an opportunity to reflect and process together. In this lightly facilitated virtual session, we’ll have time to reflect on the 2020 election and how it has come up in our subsequent interactions with students and colleagues — inside and outside of the classroom. We’ll also invite breakout groups to consider: What does it mean to be an active citizen post-election? How do we work with students to help them think this way? How, that is, do we think and act forward?
Faculty and staff are invited to this campus-wide conversation sponsored by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, the Council on Civic Engagement, and the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning
This will be a historic election, and no matter the outcome our civic engagement efforts will continue as we navigate the pathway forward together.
—
Dr. Jon Dooley
Vice President for Student Life