The following message is directly from The Institute for Democracy & Higher Education, David Brinker, DaShawn Dilworth, Prabhat Gautam, Adam Gismondi, Peter de Guzman, Xueyao Qiu, Nancy Thomas, and Duy Trinh.
"We’re in the final stretch of this exhausting but dynamic election. We appreciate all you have done to ensure that your students understand what’s at stake and have the tools they need to participate.
With some urgency, we write about two concerns we are hearing from faculty and staff nationwide as the election comes to an end: (1) discussions and teaching around the election, and (2) Election Day and post-election safety.
On discussions and teaching:
Help faculty and staff navigate discussions post-election. Not all faculty members are comfortable teaching around the election, but the election outcomes have implications for all disciplines and departments on campus. Some campuses are disseminating to faculty (and even staff) this article on preparing for and managing politically charged conversations.
On safety:
Teach students about voter intimidation. Teach students what voter intimidation looks like. Remind them that no one can be within 100 feet of the polling location unless they are casting their own ballot. The ACLU has published a hand-out that can be easily copied and distributed. The Brennan Center wrote about strict limits on what law enforcement, military, and vigilantes can legally do. Students should have handy the nonpartisan Election Protection hotline (below) to report problems.
Election Protection Hotline
English: 866-OUR-VOTE
Spanish: 888-YE-Y-VOTA
Arabic: 844-YALLA-US
Asian Languages: 888-API-VOTE
Ensure post-election campus and student safety. Today’s Inside Higher Ed includes an article on what George Washington University is doing to prepare for post-election day unrest. While widespread violence is unlikely, if you are worried about bad actors in the surrounding community or expect an extreme reaction on campus, convene campus security, local and state law enforcement officials, university counsel, students, faculty, and staff, and open a line of communication with the governor’s office to understand their plan for possible scenarios. You may also see student unrest. As we suggested in Election Imperatives 2020, work with students to co-create a plan that de-escalates tensions, enables student activism, and encourages safety.
Election Day will not end the challenges facing the nation, and education is the best hope for bringing this nation back together. For now, please view this election as the proverbial teachable moment across disciplines. And please, in the post-election period, prioritize student well-being and campus community. "
