Election-Related Events

Here is a list of some of the events and programming that were available during Election Week 2020:

Academic Engagement

10/29 – “Forecasting the 2020 Presidential Election During A Global Pandemic,” 7:30 p.m., a talk by Matt Dickinson, professor of political science. Join via Zoom.

11/3 - Election Night Discussion and Commentary with Professors Dickinson and Johnson (Political Science) (virtual) 7:30pm. Join the College Democrats for this virtual event, which will include a presentation and discussion/Q&A portion. All students regardless of political affiliation are invited to Join via Zoom. 

11/4 – Politics Luncheon (virtual), 12:30 p.m., a weekly talk hosted by Matt Dickinson, professor of political science. All are welcome. Join via Zoom.

11/5 – “Making sense of the 2020 Election” Post-election Faculty Panel (virtual), 4:30-5:45. Please join us for a panel discussion featuring commentary and reflections on the 2020 election by professors and students.  There will also be an opportunity for those joining the webinar to ask questions. Join via Zoom

11/6 - Privilege & Poverty Academic Cluster Post-Election Discussion (virtual), 4-5 p.m. Impacts and implications of the 2020 election for communities working to address the causes and consequences of racism and economic inequality. All are welcome. Join at go/talkjustice.

Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Wellness

11/2 – Make Some Noise on Election Eve! (in-person), 4:30-5:30 p.m. Join us in a collective expression of release and healing the night before the election. Bring your own noise-making/percussive objects (no wind instruments, please). Led by Scott Center for Spiritual & Religious Life staff. Space is limited to a maximum of 75 people, following all Covid guidelines.  Be sure to wear your face covering. McCullough Lawn (fenced area). This event is for the College community only. 

11/3 – Breathwork and Meditation for Relaxation (virtual), 1-1:20 p.m., sponsored by Counseling. Email btobin@middlebury.edu to join.

11/3 – Feminist Watch Party (virtual), 7 p.m., join Chellis House Director Karin Hanta and GSFS Director Laurie Essig for a Feminist Watch Party. Even if we can’t know the result, we can know we are in this together. Join via Zoom.

11/3 - Election Night Campus SCREAM! 9pm. Mask up and let it all out! Put on your mask, open your window and scream! It’s that simple! Join a campus wide scream from your residence hall at 9pm.  **due to the GLOBAL PANDEMIC please be sure to wear your mask, and we recommend keeping your window open for a few minutes after your scream session!**

11/4 - AFC Community Support (virtual & in-person) 10am-12pm (virtual), 5-7pm (in-person). In recognition of the stress surrounding this year’s Presidential Election, the AFC is hosting an in-person and an online event for students to process and debrief on Wednesday, November 4. The intent for both events is to provide a sense of community and mutual support. To participate in the Zoom event (10am-12pm), please RSVP by emailing afc@middelbury.edu. To participate in the in-person event, please drop by Axinn 221 (Abernethy Room) between 5pm and 7pm. We look forward to seeing you at either or both events!

11/4 – Weekly Well (virtual), 11 a.m.–noon, sponsored by the Center for Health and Wellness. A virtual hangout for you to connect with a staff member from the Center for Health and Wellness and other students to discuss your life, how you’re feeling, and talk through any questions about health and wellness tools and resources on campus. Join at go/weeklywell and stay for as much or as little as you like.

11/4 - Weekly Wisdom for These Days 12-12:30pm (virtual). Join Spiritual and Religious Life Dean Mark R. Orten for a half-hour of quiet contemplation with reading and music for our times. Intentional silence and guided meditation will be interspersed with music and readings from secular worldviews and sacred traditions to open our awareness and to find strength and perspective for living during pandemical, political, racial, ecological and other upheavals. Until gatherings can be held live, connect each Wednesday by Zoom. All are welcome.  Please use password “wisdom”.

11/4 - Food trucks at McCullough, 12pm-2pm. Grab some great grub at one of three food trucks outside of McCullough, near the Reflection Through Art stations. 

11/4 – Workout Wednesdays, 7-8 p.m., join Middlebury alum and certified coach Sal Nakhlawi ’19, founder of StrongHER Girls. Sponsored by Sister-to-Sister, Womxn of Color, Feminist Action at Middlebury, and the Feminist Resource Center at Chellis House. Join at go/sal.

11/5 – Walking Meditation at the Knoll (in-person), 2-3 p.m., visit the Knoll’s labyrinth to learn more about walking meditation with Health & Wellness Education. Enjoy a brief walking meditation lesson and practice in a peaceful setting. 15 spots available, register  at go/walkingmeditation.

11/5 - Pumpkin Smash! 4:30pm. Join us for some election week physical stress relief! Stop by the loading dock in the back of the Freeman International Center and smash some pumpkins, all to an appropriate soundtrack!

11/5 - Writing for Resilience (virtual), 8-9pm. Writing for oneself can help a person clarify, vent, grieve, and celebrate.  Grab a pen and some paper and take this time to write down thoughts, feelings, hopes and fears as this election week comes to its end.  There will be guided writing prompts and warm-ups to get us going as we use writing to explore how this election has shaped our inner landscape.  Guided by Danielle Stillman, Rabbi and Associate Chaplain at the Scott Center for Spiritual and Religious Life. Join via Zoom

11/5 - Campus SCREAM! 9pm. Mask up and let it all out! Put on your mask, open your window and scream! It’s that simple! Join a campus wide scream from your residence hall on Thursday Nov. 5^th at 9pm.  **due to the GLOBAL PANDEMIC please be sure to wear your mask, and we recommend keeping your window open for a few minutes after your scream session!**

11/6 - Self-Care Scavenger Hunt (in-person), begins at 2 p.m. and self-paced thereafter. Get some fresh air as you work your way around campus to self-care stations where you can find what you need to care for yourself. Visit go/selfcarescavengerhunt to get started on the hunt.

11/6 - BIPOC Friends Gathering at the Knoll (in-person) 2-5pm. Drop by the Knoll this Friday anytime from 2-5pm for a BIPOC affinity space where we can come together to decompress and to just be. Some restorative, student-led activities will include a guided meditation on the hour, sitting by the campfire, planting daffodil bulbs, making gratitude bouquets, and more. There will also be dancing!  *Please note and respect that this space will be reserved for those who identify as students of color.

11/6 - Writing for Resilience (in-person), 4-5pm. Writing for oneself can help a person clarify, vent, grieve, and celebrate.  Grab a pen and some paper and take this time to write down thoughts, feelings, hopes and fears as this election week comes to its end.  There will be guided writing prompts and warm-ups to get us going as we use writing to explore how this election has shaped our inner landscape.  Guided by Danielle Stillman, Rabbi and Associate Chaplain at the Scott Center for Spiritual and Religious Life. Axinn 219

Reflection and Conversation

11/4 - Reflection Through Art (in-person), 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Artmaking is both a political act and an escape from politics. Art supplies will be available at stations outside of McCullough. Stop by and use chalk and paint to occupy the space between art and politics first-hand.

11/4 - Say it Forward: Post-election pop-up oral histories with the College Archives (in-person and virtual) 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Come on your own (or bring a friend) and reflect on this historical moment and what comes next. College archivists will provide interview prompts and audio gear. Join via Zoom or outside of McCullough. Find more details at go/popuporalhistory

11/4 – Feminist Check-In (in-person), noon-2 p.m., Chellis House backyard, hosted by Professor Laurie Essig. What’s going on? What do we do now? How can we take care of ourselves and our communities in the days ahead?

11/4 - What community means to you in this moment (in-person), noon-1 p.m., 1-2 p.m., and 4:45-5:30 p.m. “Walk and Talk” with CCE staff members to discuss and reflect together on what community means for you, especially in this time and space. Also offered Thursday, 11/5 from 11 a.m.-noon, 2-3 p.m., and Friday, 11/6 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Meet in front of Axinn.