Election Day is quickly approaching and Meredith College is working diligently to find ways to help students feel prepared and confident to practice their civic duty by voting. There are several on-campus events this week to help students destress after the election. Through the implementation of these events, the hope is that students will understand the importance of voting and taking care of themselves after voting, according to Dr. David McLennan, Professor of Political Science.
When asked about the importance of voting, Dr. McLennan remarked that “Voting is one of the most important civic engagement behaviors in which [people] can participate.” He encourages students to use it as a “way [to] express [their] preferences for the direction of local, state, and national government and how those institutions deal with public issues.” He also says that voting is a crucial way to hold “elected officials accountable.” Dr. McLennan wants students to know that this is the chance to “vote them out of office” if they are not “doing the job” that is wanted by the public.
In addition to the importance of voting as a civic responsibility, Dr. McLennan also shared that voting is a way to “honor those who fought hard to expand voting rights” so that “people of color, women, and young people” could vote instead of only “white, landowning males.”
When given this same prompt of the importance of voting, Addison Campbell, 27’, a Political Science student, she stated that as an American citizen, “voting is one of the most important aspects” of American citizenship. She explained that as Americans, everyone is “given the opportunity to voice [their] opinions.” She also shared that this is the way for voters’ “voice[s] to be heard.”
In a flyer shared with The Herald, courtesy of Dr. McLennan, several events to attend this week are shared below:
On Friday, Nov. 1, the VALIDNation Art Performance was held in Gaddy Hamrick 137 and 144 between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. VALIDNation was performed by artist Stacey Kirby. VALIDNation is an “interactive work,” which is in connection with this year's Summer Reading Program Book, “The Bill of Obligations,” by Richard Hass.
From Nov. 4 to Nov. 8, The Angels Nest will be open for students between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. At this event, Meredith Angels can “rest and recharge’ in a calm environment for a few moments. The space is located in the Office of Career Planning. Counseling Center Support is also offered during election week, as it is every other week, for students to drop in for support.
On the evening of Nov 4, there will be a movie screening of Coco. The location of this DEIB-sponsored event is to be determined.
On Nov. 5, all classes are canceled at Meredith College to encourage students to get out and vote. From 2:30 p.m. until 5:30 PM p.m., the Carlyle Campbell Library will be hosting “destressing activities.”
Following Election Day, there will be an event Honoring Women Veterans in Jones Chapel from 10:00 a.m. until 10:50 a.m. on Nov. 6. This is an annual event that honors every veteran, with “special emphasis on the contribution of women veterans.”
Lastly, on Nov. 8, there will be a Post Election Info Session in Ledford 101. In this session, Dr. David McLennan will “discuss and reflect on the elections” and how results will affect the future. Between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., there will be a Pause for Paws event outside on Jones Chapel on the Northeast Side. Here, students will have the opportunity to relax with “dogs and their handlers” alongside Chaplain Stacy Perdue. During this time, Feel Good/ Do Good Friday will also occur on the Second Floor of Cate. there will be “community crafts and coloring.”
Dr. McLennan also shared his feelings on the importance of “reflection and de-stressing” during election season. He stated that “too much time worrying about the outcome” while also “getting caught up in the partisan hype around the election and possible results” can result in being “counterproductive.” He suggests “being involved,” regardless of what that means to you in the election. He emphasized the importance of contextualizing the outcome of the elections and its impact for the past, present and future. He wanted to remind students that American“ government institutions have been around for well over two centuries” and the nation has “endured economic calamities, wars—including a civil war—and other issues and, yet, [the] government institutions continue.” He expressed that “it is important to reflect on the importance of voting, but not turn an election into an existential concern.”
Addison Campbell shared that as election season comes to an end, she plans on taking a “thoughtful approach” to reflecting on this election cycle. She noted that this election has been one of the “most important elections” that has been seen in America, as it will surely be a “turning point in the United States.” She plans to reflect on the policies, candidates, and issues that have contributed to this election.
The flyer for the election week events has been included beow for reference.
By Ellie Phillips, Contributing Writer
Graphic by Shae-Lynn Henderson, EIC
Flyer courtesy of Dr. McLennan