A team of staff and faculty are working together to coordinate events and resources related to the fall elections. This work builds upon our institutional mission, graduate qualities, and values for building community and sense of belonging. Themes of the work include opportunities to learn about the policy issues and election process, voter engagement, civil discourse, and support for mental wellbeing and resiliency. These topics are not isolated to this one point in time, and work is planned to continue the narratives of civil discourse, understanding our political systems and current issues, and supporting the wellness of all members of our community beyond November.
Below are resources, internal and external, and campus events planned around these themes. The planning team also encourages members of the campus community to share events and work with us to support cross-campus communication.
Campus Events
Friday, September 13, 3-5 pm “Sex on the Quad” Sponsored by Community Health Promotion & Peer Health Education. Information on Voting, Reproductive Healthcare Rights, and Ballot Initiatives.
Tuesday, September 17, 7 pm “The Fight to End Gerrymandering” Retired Judge Maureen O’Connor. Gault Recital Hall, Scheide Music Center. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters.
Wednesday, September 25, 7 pm “Polarization, Misinformation, and Civil Discourse in U.S. Politics” the Alley, Lowry Center.
Organizational Team Membership & Contacts
The planning committee has designated contacts for different themes. Please reach out to the noted individual(s) for specific questions on these areas of focus or the Deans’ offices for general inquiries or to share events/resources with the Planning Team.
Co-Chairs
Ashley Reid Interim Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students
Sarah Sobeck Dean for Faculty Development & Professor of Chemistry
Understanding Politics with Political Science
Michele Leiby Associate Professor of Political Science
Voter Engagement
Elora Agsten Learning Engagement Librarian
Meg Wrobel Assistant Professor of Political Science
Civil Discourse
Julia Zimmer Director of Lowry Center & Student Activities
Mental Wellbeing & Resiliency
Kayla Campbell CDEIO Program Coordinator
Rev. Erin Guzmán Chaplain, Director of Religious & Spiritual Life
Anne Ober Director of Wellbeing and Counseling Services
Additional Resources
Quick Links to College Policies
- Chapter 1, Section 9 on Academic Freedom
- Chapter 4C Resolution on Freedom of Expression & Inquiry
- The Civility Statement
- Statement on Freedom of Expression & Inquiry
- Classroom Atmosphere Policy
College of Wooster Policies & Procedures
- Partisan Political Activity with the College of Wooster Facilities
- Non-Discrimination Policy
External Resources & Guides
Campus Guides
- Maintaining Campus Community During the 2024 Election: A Guide for Leaders, Faculty, and Staff from Constructive Dialogue Institute
- PEN America’s Campus Free Speech Guide
Classroom Focused
- “Strategies to Support Challenging Conversations in the Classroom.” Center for Educational Innovation, University of Minnesota, 2024. Retrieved [8-21-24] from: https://cei.umn.edu/teaching-resources/challenging-conversations
- “Teaching in Times of Crisis”, from Eastern Michigan University
- “Creating Community Agreements”, from the University of California Berkley
- “Teaching in Times of Crisis”, from Vanderbilt University’s Center for Teaching
- “Navigating Heated, Offensive, and Tense (HOT) Moments in the Classroom”, from Columbia University’s Center for Teaching & Learning
Civil Discourse
- “Stop Talking: Indigenous Ways of Teaching and Learning and Difficult Dialogues in Higher Education” by Ilarion Merculieff and Libby Roderick (open access pdf here).
- Dialogue Resources, University of California National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement
- Civil Dialogue Higher Education and Other Resources, University of Wisconsin
Supporting Resiliency & Mental Health
- Mindfulness and civic engagement: Election Resources — Sharon Salzberg
Additional External Organizations & Resource Collections