Dear COE Students, Staff, and Faculty,

President Schill’s eloquent entreaty to vote: https://president.uoregon.edu/voting-resources-and-events-2020-election, respect one another, and make our voices heard is much appreciated. I add my voice to his.

I am similarly impressed by the voting and election-related resources provided for our university community: https://around.uoregon.edu/election2020. I encourage you to visit this site and scroll to the bottom to find the video entitled, The Lost Art of Argument: More Vital Than Ever This Election Season. The video features insights from students, staff and faculty from across campus, and our own Professor Lisa Mazzei. This piece also offers us a rare non-partisan educational opportunity in the midst of the onslaught of political advertisements, text messages, and unwelcome telephone solicitations. In addition, the content and concepts prepare us for the deliberations we will have going forward about creating a substantially more inclusive college.

It will be another week to engage in self-care. Some of you will need to rest, find some peace with nature, or find solace by reaching out to friends, colleagues, and family members. Others may need to take advantage of our university’s mental health resources. I also suggest that you find respite by offering one another some goodwill.

Finally, the election provides a reminder for us to stay committed to the work of making great strides toward inclusion, and to engage in the anti-racist actions required to achieve that goal. The frustrated efforts of Marian Wright Edelman (famed NAACP attorney and founder of the Children’s Defense Fund) serve as an example of the necessity for us to act with urgency this academic year. After seeing her child development legislative effort fail in 1971, she remarked, “…The country was tired of the concerns of the sixties. When you talked about poor people or black people, you faced a shrinking audience.” The remainder of this academic year will be our best opportunity to make the bold systemic changes required of us.

We are indeed privileged to be a part of this great institution and to be able to contribute to the field-leading work we are known for. The ways we use this privilege to remake ourselves as an inclusive institution will be our election year legacy. I look forward to joining you post-election season to co-create this future.

Take care,

Randy