Student Life Office

Election Day is a time when Americans make some of the most important and impactful decisions that will shape the course of the country, state, and local districts for the next four years and beyond. We would like to thank the SEEDS (Students for Education, Equity, and Direct Service) program for their excellent work this year in engaging our community in voter registration to ensure that all eligible voices can be heard this election. We also want to highlight the good work of the Elections & Voting Information Center under the direction of Paul Gronke, Reed political science professor, to keep our community and broader audiences informed of what may happen this election cycle.

The election polls so far suggest that many races, including the presidency, will be close. Whatever the outcome, there is value in respecting the democratic process and honoring the results.

The peaceful transition of power has been a hallmark of American democracy since the founding of our nation. That was shaken during the January 6, 2021 insurrection, and some of the rhetoric around the upcoming election has continued to stoke fears. Reed College has a comprehensive plan in place should there be unrest in the surrounding area that could impact our campus. We have clear thresholds for when we would need to act in order to protect our community. The physical safety of our campus is always at the forefront of our considerations, and we are prepared to ensure that safety.

This U.S. presidential race is expected to be extremely close. We may not know the outcome of the election for days or even weeks. The Division of Student Life, the Dean of the Faculty Office, and the Office for Institutional Diversity have several events planned to help our community members come together and navigate post-election concerns:

• Tuesday, November 5, at noon in the Sports Center Upper Studio: Meditate on Election Day with HCC Counselor Skylar Willson-Ko.

• Tuesday, November 5, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Vollum Lounge: Faculty Lunchroom

• Wednesday, November 6, at noon: All are welcome to take a guided or self-guided silent walk through The Crossings of the Canyon with Health and Well-being and Community Safety. Meet at the orchard near the east parking lot.

• Wednesday, November 6, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Student Life Office (Eliot 218): Coffee with Martha A. Darling Dean of Students Chris Toutain

• Wednesday, November 6, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Vollum Lounge: Staff Lunchroom

• Tuesday, November 12, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Vollum Lounge: Faculty Lunchroom

• Wednesday, November 13, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Quad: November care station

• Wednesday, November 20, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Vollum Lounge: “The Light in Our Hands,” a grief workshop with speaker/educator Canada Taylor Parker

• Wednesday, December 4, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Sports Center Conference Room: Relational well-being event on “Home for the Holidays” (for students)

Best,

Kathy Oleson, PhD
Dean of the Faculty and Patricia and Clifford Lunneborg Professor of Psychology

Karnell McConnell-Black, EdD
Vice President for Student Life

Phyllis Esposito, PhD
Vice President and Dean for Institutional Diversity