To the Skidmore Community:

As midterm elections approach, we are entering into a concentrated season of both political activity and related communications. We have witnessed strong opinions on display throughout recent years — both here on campus and on the national stage — and anticipate that this activity will intensify in the weeks to come.

With that in mind, I write to remind you that Skidmore has an established policy on Political Activity,  which I encourage you to review on our website.

This policy was developed by the Institutional Policy and Planning Committee (IPPC) in collaboration and consultation with students, staff, and faculty members across campus. You will see that its underlying message is a reminder for all of us to be respectful of opinions that differ from our own and measured in our response to them.

Skidmore greatly values freedom of speech, thought, and expression, just as any leading liberal arts institution should. We welcome and expect to learn from a diversity of perspectives and ideas. As the semester progresses, you will see notices of a broad array of campus activities and events, some of which already have been advertised. Among them, I encourage you to attend a talk by author and professor Sigal Ben-Porath entitled, “Inclusive Freedom of Speech on Campus” on Thursday, September 13 at 7:00 p.m. in Zankel. This event is sponsored by the President’s Office Community Dialogue Series.  A book signing will be held after Dr. Ben-Porath’s presentation. I also invite you to attend, “Get Up, Stand Up: Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship,” which is part of the Accelerator Series at the Tang Teaching Museum.

We are also pleased to announce that planning is underway to host a live, televised U.S. Senate candidates’ debate on our campus next month. A limited amount of tickets will be available to the community. More information will be provided when details are finalized.

As Dean Cerri Banks has announced, later this Fall during the week of November 5–9, there will be a number of events exploring free speech. The series will include speakers, workshops, community conversations, and a campus video to provide smart and relevant options for all members of our community to join the discussion. Further details regarding those events will be forthcoming. A full listing of related upcoming events may be found here.  If you have an event you would like to add to this roster, please let the President’s Office know.

Most importantly, I encourage you to participate in the political process – especially by voting! – and to find positive ways to make your opinion known, while also seeking greater understanding of the range of views held by others in our community.