Today's Update: Monday, September 16, 2024

September 16, 2024

Dear Student Life team, 

Football season isn’t the only one underway; election season is in full swing, as well. And while debate over national rankings and playoff spots can be heated, the issues to be decided in this election are significant and important. 

As I mentioned at the last Scarlet and Great Gathering, it is critical for institutions of higher education to ensure community members’ constitutional rights, including voting and freedom of speech and expression. Campuses are meant to be places of healthy debate and civil discourse. When we have times of deep divide, this is more important than ever. My sincere hope is that over the coming weeks, on campuses across the nation, we can embrace the concept that agreeing shouldn’t be the goal; the goal should be creating environments where there is enough trust and care to hear each other, consider different perspectives and achieve learning. 

There was a great deal of work over the summer, including by many Student Life team members, to prepare for this academic year by ensuring that our space standards are easy-to-understand, that our websites are convenient to navigate and that resources, support and information are readily available. 

A key component is Ohio State’s new Listen. Learn. Discuss. initiative. Check out the website (listen-learn.discuss.osu.edu) for a set of skill-building resources for respectfully listening, discussing different points of view, building trust with one another and successfully navigating complex conversations even – and especially – when we disagree. 

We also revamped the Freedom of Expression website to double down on Ohio State’s commitment to protecting the First Amendment right to free speech and expression while advancing intellectual freedom and promoting civic engagement. 

Speaking of civic engagement, Student Life’s OSU Votes is the university’s recognized non-partisan source for information to register, educate and encourage students to vote. You’ll see them clearly identified with name tags at tabling events on campus. They even do on-demand workshops on topics such as how to register to vote, how to early or absentee vote and what you need to bring to the polls on election day.  

Another major project was updating the university’s space standards. You can find it on the Using Space on Our Campus tab of the Freedom of Expression website. This information is especially important if you or a student organization you work with are planning a campus event. 

Finally, you are encouraged to fully and freely exercise your constitutional right to vote, as well as express your personal opinions regarding politics. However, as employees of a public institution, there are restrictions on exercising these rights at work in a manner that suggests university endorsement of a cause or candidate. The university has guidelines regarding political activity, which can help you understand how to exercise your constitutional rights.

I know there will be no shortage of conversation and passionate discourse on campus this autumn. Together, we can support our students’ ability to engage in open-minded, honest and authentic dialogue with Scarlet and Great respect and trust.  
 

Melissa S. Shivers, PhD                
Senior Vice President for Student Life                 
The Ohio State University