Staff Senate Blog

Election Day

by

Good Afternoon Bears!

This is a reminder that anyone registered in Greene County can vote on campus tomorrow at JQH Arena. Here are some things to keep in mind:

1: Parking Lot 54 will be closed to faculty, staff, and students until 7:00 PM on Tuesday for community members to park for voting.

2: Please keep in mind the University’s three pillars. Ethical Leadership, Cultural Competence, and Comunity Engagement. For more information check out the website! https://publicaffairs.missouristate.edu/About.htm

3: For more information, here is the official memo from Ryan DeBoef, Chief of Staff. Talking points – November Election

NOVEMBER ELECTION Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2020. JQH Arena will be a central polling location for this election, meaning any voter registered in Greene County can vote there on election day regardless of their assigned polling location. The Welcome Center will not be a central polling location for this election. Many people hold strong views about the candidates and issues on the ballot. Accordingly, we should expect expressive activity and emotional reactions in the coming weeks. Some people in our campus community will undoubtedly feel disappointed with the results of the election, regardless of which candidates and issues receive the most votes. As you encounter these situations, please keep the following in mind: - The election presents a great opportunity to educate students and others about the three pillars of the public affairs mission. As ethical leaders, we should all be prepared to articulate our values. However, we should also recognize and respect multiple perspectives and cultures. - It also presents a great opportunity to educate students and others on how to be civil and be heard. Be attentive and acknowledge others. Be inclusive, listen, and respect other views. Speak with courage, but act with compassion. Give and accept constructive feedback. Understand your environment and take responsibility for mistakes and actions.
- When acting in an official capacity, faculty and staff should be mindful that remarks about their opinions or feelings regarding a candidate, political issue, or results of an election may have a negative impact on the way students and others perceive them and the university. As a public institution of higher education, we must maintain neutrality with respect to our personal political views in the classroom and in university meetings, events and activities. In classes, meetings and events where the election and political issues are relevant, we must work together to foster mutual respect and to promote an environment conducive to sharing different perspectives and ideas. Clearly, there will be many other classes, meetings and events where the election and political issues are not a relevant topic of discussion or debate. - Forums, rallies, demonstrations, and other expressive activities on campus are subject to the Expressive Activity Policy and University Rules for Speakers and Facilities.
- SGA and staff are planning events for the days following the election to create an organized, civil environment in which students can express their positive or negative emotions. Information about these events will be distributed through the university’s communications channels. Additionally, students can schedule appointments at the Counseling Center. - Delays are expected for final outcomes given the unprecedented number of mail/absentee ballots. Tensions and emotions may run even higher in the days following the election. Be mindful of the stress associated with these delays. In addition to expressive activity, remind students about counseling services, and encourage them to exercise, eat well and interact with friends. Additional information, including how people can find their designated polling location, the availability of notaries on campus for remote voting, etc. can be found in the October 27 Clif’s Note.