Camels Vote
Conn mobilizes comprehensive resources for Election Day and beyond
In the closing days of the 2020 campaign, departments across campus are taking action to ensure those who want to vote, can, and that anybody who might need support processing the result of the election in the days and weeks following will have a number of resources at their disposal.
The Holleran Center for Community Action has created a voter resources website, Camels Vote, to provide nonpartisan information and assistance related to registration, absentee voting and transportation to the polls in New London on Election Day, while other offices are hosting remote post-election events for members of the College community who would like to express their concerns or reflect on what is widely considered the most consequential presidential election in a generation.
Institutional Equity and Inclusion will be offering virtual office hours for students and is encouraging people to maintain a sense of solidarity, empathy and respectfulness during a time when emotions will be running high.
“Our focus is on creating various kinds of spaces for students to gather in small groups, with hallmates and friends, in order to maintain our commitment to keeping the campus safe and healthy, and we invite students to utilize campus resources in the days and weeks ahead as we all process the election outcomes,” said John McKnight, Dean of Institutional Equity and Inclusion.
“I am so grateful to the Conn community for the tremendous amount of civic engagement we have displayed in these past several weeks. Let's keep it going all the way through Election Day!”
This past summer, Connecticut College President Katherine Bergeron signed on to the All In Campus Democracy Challenge, a non-partisan initiative that aims to achieve full voter participation and civic engagement on college campuses. As of Oct. 30, Connecticut College was ranked No. 1 in the New England Small College Atheltic Conference (NESCAC) and No. 4 in the nation for pledges.
The day after the election, on Wednesday, Nov. 4, from 5:30-7 p.m., The Center for the Critical Study of Race and Ethnicity (CCSRE) is hosting a virtual election debrief and discussion via Zoom that will break out into three separate groups based on how attendees self-identify, and will close with a “talk-back” led by Dr. Bryana White from Student Counseling Services (SCS). SCS staff will also be available for confidential counseling and the office has created a kit for students looking for stress management tips related to the election.
On Thursday, Nov. 5, beginning at noon, the College Chaplains and Office of Religious and Spiritual Programs will use their weekly PAUSE meeting to create a virtual space for people to gather for shared moments of silence, solidarity and prayer, or to express what’s on their minds and join a system of community support.
“We hope PAUSE creates a space to gather across our different identities and religious and spiritual backgrounds, speak to our shared humanity, and hope that rhythms and practices of pausing as a community to share and listen can strengthen our understanding of each other and deepen our compassion,” said Angela Nzegwu, director of religious and spiritual programs.
