October 30, 2020
Dear Friends,
For the entire semester, the Indiana University Bloomington campus and many groups on it have actively encouraged civic engagement through voter registration and support for voting. The campus is also delighted to facilitate voting by hosting a polling site in the Indiana Memorial Union on Election Day, Nov. 3, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (please check your voter registration to find out if you may vote at the IMU or if you have a different voting location based on your address).
I write today to let you know the steps we are taking to support a civil and peaceful election.
As we do with any event or any series of events involving heightened campus activity, we will staff an Emergency Operations Center to respond to any special circumstances related to the election. While we have been actively preparing to ensure that the election is a safe and civil event, we are also aware that this election comes toward the end of a long semester with a pandemic and no breaks, at a time when everyone is already tired. If you or others you know are experiencing serious or disabling anxiety, please reach out to campus resources for that purpose. Students can contact CAPS 24/7 to speak to a crisis counselor by calling 812-855-5711, option 1 (or contact your local hospital emergency department). Faculty, staff, and graduate students who are Student Academic Appointees and Fellowship recipients can connect with the SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program by calling 888-881-LINC (5462).
At Indiana University, we support free and open discussion from a variety of viewpoints and perspectives. As voting is fundamental to our democracy, this exchange of ideas is fundamental to our mission as a public university. Democracies, like campuses, are designed to be noisy, and we battle ideas we don’t care for with ideas we think are better. We also remind everyone that we will not tolerate acts of racism or bigotry. We do not expect such acts, but if they occur, they should be reported here. Of course, any acts that threaten your immediate safety should be reported directly to the police.
For those of you casting that momentous first vote, I hope that this election ushers in a lifetime of engagement in the democratic process–a process that decides the fate of important issues that shape our country.
My very best,
Lauren
Lauren Robel
Executive Vice President and Provost
Val Nolan Professor of Law
Indiana University Bloomington