November 7, 2016
Postelection dialogue: Civility and Engagement on Nov. 9 and beyond
Submitted by Theo Stavropoulos
Several Kansas State University student and faculty groups and academic units are hosting a postelection dialogue to heal and help continue engagement after the election at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, in Town Hall of the Leadership Studies Building.
"As you participate in our democratic process, remember that our great country is bigger than one election or one candidate — regardless of who wins," Pat Bosco, vice president for student life and dean of students, said in a Nov. 1 message to students. "A peaceful transition of power is one of the foundations of our democracy, and a caring atmosphere in light of our differences is one of the foundations of our university."
The groups sponsoring the event include HandsOn Kansas State, the Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy, K-State Student Governing Association, the communication studies department and the Staley School of Leadership Studies.
"So how do we come together after a contentious election season to heal and commit to continued engagement?" asked Theo Stavropoulos, special project coordinator for communications in the Staley School of Leadership Studies. "Elections happen periodically and eventually come to an end, but democracy happens every day. This dialogue will create space to surface issues, feelings and challenges that have come as a result of a long, competitive election cycle."
Facilitators from the Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy will help participants process through these challenges, heal divides, resist the urge to disengage and strategize about how to continue engagement in the future.
Since the beginning of the fall 2016 semester, these partnerships have helped promote civility and civic engagement in the 2016 election year through voter registration and voter readiness events, debate watch parties, and assistance with early voting on campus and by mail. Join us to continue the conversations and engagement on Nov. 9 and beyond.