November 1, 2022 – Your Voice, Your Vote: A Call for Respect During Election Season

Dear Campus Community,

Election Day is drawing near and I encourage members of our campus community to exercise their right to vote. Your voice matters. As a large and diverse community, we possess a wide variety of perspectives and opinions. It is my hope that we can have serious and thought-provoking debates that are respectful and honest throughout the election season.

I want to remind everyone that protecting freedom of speech and expression is essential for creating a campus community that celebrates and respects diverse opinions. As a strong advocate of the First Amendment, the University has a responsibility to allow and protect the full spectrum of opinions on campus, even those that may be unpopular. All individuals and groups are permitted to speak out. Not allowed are actions that threaten the physical safety of others, directly and severely harass others on the basis of a protected characteristic (race, gender, sexual orientation, religion), or promote vandalism or illegal activity. See Chico State’s Free Speech and Advocacy website for more information.

If you see or hear anything that crosses the line and creates an unsafe or threatening situation, I encourage you to report it immediately. You can also consider submitting an anonymous tip to University Police or notifying Student Conduct, Rights, and Responsibilities. Familiarize yourself with bystander intervention, which is recognizing a potentially harmful situation and choosing to respond in a way that could positively influence the outcome.

In our democracy, one of the best ways to engage is at the ballot box, by using the political process to take a stand for candidates and policies you support or disagree with. I encourage all who are registered to take seriously their civic responsibility and vote. As a reminder, the BMU (second floor, room 203) is a voter assistance center that will be open from November 5 – 8 and there is a secure ballot drop box located right outside in the plaza.

Sincerely,

Gayle E. Hutchinson

President