October 31, 2024
Dear Campus Community,
At the beginning of the semester, I asked our campus what it would look like if the Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ was recognized as a community that models healthy, respectful dialogue across differences and robust civic engagement in our democratic society.
Next week's election gives us an opportunity to see what this looks like in practice. First and foremost, it looks like everyone participating in the democratic process by exercising their right to vote. This right is both a gift and a responsibility that is foundational to our concept of democracy. In fact, many members of the Griz community will vote for the first time in a presidential election. UM is hosting a polling place in the James E. Todd Building on Tuesday, Nov. 5, and UDASH will run a shuttle to the election center throughout the day. Get out and vote!
In the aftermath of the election, some will no doubt be disappointed, angry even. But the project of American democracy does not begin and end with a single election. For nearly 250 years, our forebears have shepherded this republic through times of great difficulty, and it now falls to us to steward it into the future. Regardless of who serves as our next president, American democracy is a shared and ongoing endeavor.
We should be proud that UM has long been recognized as an institution committed to strengthening the cornerstones of democracy: robust civic engagement, challenging but necessary conversations, collaborative solution building, and service for the greater good. This is who we are. And as we live through a particularly tumultuous political moment in our country, I take confidence in the fact that Grizzlies will continue to cultivate a climate of curiosity, exploration, collective problem solving, and civic leadership. Our Montana way includes robust dialogue in the classroom, next week's DiverseU events, this spring's Democracy Summit, participation in student clubs and community organizations.
Regardless of which candidates are elected to office next week, here at UM we will carry on our efforts to foster the intellectual and experiential understandings that underpin a healthy democracy. As one expression of this continued work, this year's UM Flagship Fund invites proposals for one-year grants of up to $10,000 to foster civic thought, action, and leadership. These projects may deepen understanding of the diverse human experience; further develop the uniquely human capacities of empathy, teamwork, creative problem-solving and communication; and create opportunities for dialogue across differences.
Building and sustaining the type of learning environment that enables pluralism, respectful dialogue across difference, and civic engagement is not easy, especially in a time of political discord. But our courage and curiosity will sustain us in this challenging moment, ensuring that we benefit from a community of diverse voices and that - whether your preferred candidates emerge victorious next week or not - we each do our part to nurture the health of American democracy for generations to come.
I look forward to exercising my right to vote in the coming week, and I remain grateful for your collaboration and partnership in this important and ongoing work.
Seth