Dear Faculty and Staff Colleagues:

Next week, the campaign season comes to an end with the elections. It’s clear there is a great deal of anxiety surrounding the election and its outcome. In my last message, I asked you to be thoughtful and discerning about using your own power to advance a political point of view. In this message, I share resources to help you and your students navigate the post-election environment.

Every election involves some uncertainty, but one element that may be in play this year is that the presidential election may not be decided with clarity in the first hours or days. And even if a clear winner has emerged, there are always questions that follow upon an election, especially among students, for whom this may be their first time voting. With that in mind, my office, in partnership with the Division of Mission and Ministry, will be sponsoring a post-election conversation, an opportunity for the community to come together and discuss where things stand and where things might be going. It will be held on Wednesday, November 6, from 4:00 - 5:15 p.m. in the Locatelli Student Activity Center. Father Matt Carnes, who is himself a fellow political scientist, and I will sit on the panel along with Professors Caitlin Jachimowicz of the law school and Vivien Leung of the political science department. The four of us will talk briefly about our interpretation of what is going on, but the event will mostly be driven by questions that attendees bring with them. We hope that you will come, and that you will advertise the session to your students.  

We have already held a series of excellent programs in the run up to the election. I want to bring your attention to other opportunities to come together as a community – both on-line and in-person – in the days following November 5. You can find those events listed on our election resource page. There are also campus resources available to help guide you – and to help you guide others – through the potentially tumultuous weeks ahead. I hope you will take advantage of resources on preparing for Difficult Conversations in the Classroom from Faculty Development; tips for Managing Conversations Regarding the Election and Support for Election Stress from Student Health, Counseling, and Well-Being; and a FAQ on Political Campaign Activities from Office of the General Counsel.  

This is an unusual moment, and we will navigate it together, guided by our Jesuit values and the strength of this wonderful community. 

 

With hope and appreciation,

James M. Glaser
Provost and Executive Vice President
Professor of Political Science