Oct. 29, 2020
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
As we inch closer to Election Day, I’d like to remind our campus community about the importance of engaging in one of our most fundamental rights as Americans: the right to vote. It’s essential for the functioning and future of our democracy.
Part of our mission at CU is to shape tomorrow’s leaders; this includes taking part in our democracy, voting, and showing respect for our fellow Buffs and community members, even–especially–if they hold beliefs different than our own. We could all spend a little more time listening with sincerity and empathy.
We can be fervent in our beliefs and openly express them through protest, dialogue and debate, but we must make sure our passions are expressed productively and peacefully. If we can disagree without degrading, we can set a new and necessary standard for political discourse. And after we are done debating our values and expressing ourselves in civilized discourse, we take our opinions to the voting booth or ballot drop box.
I’ve already voted, and I encourage you to do the same. In Colorado, you can register to vote in the upcoming election through Election Day on Nov. 3. On campus we have two 24-hour ballot boxes–one near the University Memorial Center, or UMC, and one by the Williams Village bus stop. If you need to find your nearest off-campus drop box or polling station, visit the Colorado Secretary of State’s website. You can find more information about voting—including upcoming election-related events—as well as student and faculty-staff resources for health and wellness at the CU Boulder election 2020 webpage.
For our faculty and supervisors, I also ask that you remain flexible to the needs of our students and staff in the days leading up to the election on Nov. 3, and in the weeks and months after. We encourage engagement in the electoral process, whether through voter education efforts or just waiting in a safely distanced line to cast a ballot.
I encourage you to be safe and support each other. Take care of yourselves and make your voices heard—in your community and at the polls.
We are Buffs together,
Phil