Don’t Synthesize, Organize

What Academics Need To Do To Ready Themselves for Political Fights

There is no shortage of political anxiety in the world right now. Here in the USA, we are in a Presidential Election year and we are seeing the country pay a bit more attention. For those (like me) who are constantly paying attention, this is a time to begin to think about engaging voters in two very important elements of politics: Persuasion and Turn-Out. If you are an engaged voter, you may be well aware of Turn-Out, as you yourself (hopefully) have, registered to vote and actually voted. In the political world it’s called GOTV: “Get Out The Vote”. 

This election cycle we have seen education, specifically higher education on the ballot. Dismantling DEI, axing affirmative action, instilling regulations on who can and who cannot lead universities, legislating “free speech”, cuts to existing and institution of new majors that are politically motivated, are just a sample of policy decisions that may be on the ballot. Then there are the very real issues of the power of the state legislature or governor who puts in place decision makers and leaders, those very individuals who make it their quest to attack academic freedom, but also create a world where our students fear their own safety due to gun regulations, reproductive rights, as well as their gender, racial, religious or any varied intersection of identities.