Dear members of the Kenyon community,
All over campus today, I’ve spotted dozens of “I voted” stickers proudly displayed on jackets and sweaters and other favorite personal items. They actually started popping up a few weeks ago. A record number of Ohioans voted early, and others took advantage of voting by mail. When I voted early in Knox County last week, I ran into several Kenyon students. If you have not already cast your vote, I hope you will do so yet today if you are eligible.
Before the polls close and our attention turns to the vote tally, I wanted to take a moment to say how proud I am of the Kenyon community for all the ways we have participated in the democratic process. I don’t just mean voting, as important as that is. I mean educating ourselves on the issues, being open to and exchanging different views, and forming our own well-considered opinions — all of this in an election season that has been characterized by its divisiveness.
College students, indeed college campuses, have long played an important role in American politics. And Kenyon has a long history of political engagement and rigorous discourse, even in the most fractious of times. This year, as divides seemed to deepen on the campaign trail, the Kenyon community has shown that it’s possible to see the world differently and, even in our disagreements, to remain open to learning. We’ve interrogated ideas, our own as much as others’, and retained respect for the people who express them. Throughout this fall, I have been impressed by the quality and rigor of discussion at election-related events and by the thoughtful and important questions that have been asked.
I would like to extend a special thank you to the team directing the Center for the Study of American Democracy — Professor Joe Klesner and Assistant Professor Nancy Powers — and to the CSAD student associates. From running voter registration drives to developing voter guides for local, state and national races, you have embodied the idea of the citizen-scholar. I’d also like to recognize Assistant Professor Zac McGee and the students in his Campaigns and Elections class who have been working with the Knox County Board of Elections. I know there are countless other examples of civic engagement among Kenyon students, faculty and staff — thank you for your commitment to engaging and supporting the democratic process.
And while Election Day is a major milestone, we may not know the results for days or weeks in races that are close. Ensuring that every vote is counted is an essential part of the democratic process. I also recognize that uncertainty, whatever the outcome, can be unsettling. Let us continue to lean into our supportive community here at Kenyon. I encourage you to continue to show up for talks and watch parties and to make use of the many campus resources available to help make sense of events as they unfold.
However unsettled you may feel about the election, you can be certain that we will continue to have thoughtful conversations on campus in the days and weeks to follow. For 200 years Kenyon has been devoted to informed and spirited inquiry and to ensuring that all views and voices are welcomed into the discussion. This has and will continue to be true. After all, these principles are both the cornerstone of a liberal arts education and essential to healthy democracies.
Warmly,
Julie Kornfeld
President