A Message About the Upcoming Election
October 21, 2020
Dear Brandeis Community,
This has been a year filled with challenges — the health and economic impacts of the global pandemic and a long overdue moment of reckoning around racism in the United States primary among them. I have been impressed by both the resilience of our community and its resolve to engaging both these issues. It gives me great optimism for our future.
With that in mind, I want to reinforce a message you have heard from me and many others across Brandeis already this year: in this critical election year, we should each exercise our right and responsibility to vote. As a reminder, you can access voting resources via the Brandeis VoteDeis Campus Coalition.
I recognize that the presidential election has elevated a number of issues, caused great concern, and prompted much dialogue around the path forward for this country. Founded on principles of openness and justice, the Brandeis community is respectful of one another and recognizes an opportunity to learn through critical inquiry and self-criticism.
In an effort to support a civil discourse and a campus-wide dialogue, we will be having a variety of sessions that will bring us together.
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Final Presidential Debate Watch Party, 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020,
The Heller School is hosting “Elections 2020 Conversations with the Dean: The Act of Democracy,” a virtual talk at 5-6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27.
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President Ron Liebowitz and Tom Friedman ‘75 H’88 in Conversation: “Thinking Ahead to the Presidential Election,” 4:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29.
In addition, the Office of Student Affairs will be communicating with students about a number of events and programming planned for the coming weeks.
I recognize that in the days leading up to and after the election, there may also be activities on our campus and beyond that our community may participate in as individuals or collectively. From volunteering at the polls to participating in public responses to the election, the university respects the spirit of activism behind these activities. At the same time, I want to encourage all of us to live out our values consistent with the critically important public health steps we are taking to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on campus. Equally important, I hope we can do so in a way that promotes understanding, civility, and public safety. I know this community shares my fervent interest in moving away from a divisiveness that seems to dominate so much of the public conversation.
As we look ahead to the election, I am confident that we will rise to this challenge and handle whatever might happen in ways that are consistent with respect for one another.
For now, please remember to exercise your right to vote.
Sincerely,
Ron Liebowitz