Fellow Bears,
We are quickly approaching what will surely be one of the most polarizing presidential elections of our time. As the November 5th election draws closer, I want to share some thoughts that I hope are helpful as we all navigate the diversity of thought within our university community, state, and nation, as well as resources that will make voting more accessible to our university community.
I recognize this may be a difficult time as we are confronted with viewpoints and opinions that are different from our own — in the news, on social media, in classrooms, on campus, and in the community. My hope is that we approach those differences with both conviction and kindness.
As challenging as this time may be for some, it is also an incredibly exciting time, as this will be the first presidential election that many of our students have the privilege of participating in. In the spirit of embracing this excitement, I encourage everyone to learn more about UNC’s Bears Vote Coalition, a nonpartisan effort led by faculty and staff and in partnership with the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, Campus Vote Project, and the Weld County Elections Department. Their work, nationally recognized as a best practice by the Constructive Dialogue Institute, is focused on championing voter and civic engagement within our community and increasing registered voters and voter turnout.
Over the coming weeks, you will see an increased presence of Bears Vote initiatives across campus aimed at achieving these goals. This includes voter registration tables and presentations from faculty experts on the importance of civil discourse and civic engagement, and a multi-part Bear in Mind podcast series that will discuss topics such as voter education and freedom of speech on campus. In addition, UNC’s Campus Commons is an official Weld County Voter Service and Polling Center and 24-hour ballot drop-off location that will be open from October 1st through the day of the election.
The Bears Vote Coalition website is also full of helpful links to do things like check your voter registration status and register to vote, as well as find strategies and resources to help deal with election stress.
As a public institution of higher education, it is our privilege and duty to welcome diverse opinions on our campus for the benefit of learning. In fact, we have a strong history of upholding that standard during presidential elections as vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden was on campus in 2008 and presidential candidate Donald Trump in 2016.
At UNC, we recognize and uphold the First Amendment right of law-abiding individuals and groups who choose to participate in freedom of speech and expression activities on campus — regardless of their position or platform. Welcoming and learning from diverse thoughts, opinions, and experiences is so fundamental to who we are that it is embedded in our institutional strategic plan. Empowering Inclusivity, one of our five vision elements, is our commitment to not just celebrate and nurture that diversity, but also to learn from it — through meaningful discussion of shared and different experiences, viewpoints, and ideas.
I encourage all of you in the coming weeks to intentionally seek ways to participate in civil dialogue, to always treat each other with respect, and to exercise your right to vote!
Sincerely,
Andy Feinstein
President
