As the date for local, state, and national elections draws closer, here are some guidelines for behavior from all faculty, staff, and students at the university:
- Catholic universities are places dedicated to the cause of truth. As such, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is committed to creating a safe and respectful environment in which the university community can engage in open and civil dialogue on all matters. Civil discourse is expected at the university in all conversations, but most especially, the difficult conversations
- Residential students on the Winona campus are prohibited from displaying anything in the windows of their rooms. No items are to be attached, hung, or displayed in the windows of the residence halls. This includes, but is not limited to decals, posters/signs, flags, window markers, etc., including political or candidate posters or advertisements.
- The university is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization and cannot participate or intervene in political campaign activity in support of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office. IRS rules and regulations prohibit the university from the following activities:
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- Endorsing candidates,
- Making campaign contributions,
- Engaging in fundraising,
- Making statements of position, verbal or written, on behalf of the institution in favor of or opposition to any candidate,
- Making partisan comments in official university publications or at official functions,
- Becoming involved in any other activity that might be beneficial or detrimental to any candidate, including activities encouraging an individual to vote for or against a candidate based on partisan criteria, or
- Hosting a debate or forum showing a preference for or against a certain candidate.
- Appearances by any candidate on campus must be approved, in advance, by Mr. Scott Walker, Vice President for Student Development.
- Under Minnesota law, political candidates and campaign workers accompanying the candidate must be permitted to knock on the doors of residence hall rooms to speak with students, and to leave campaign materials at their doors, solely for purposes of campaigning. Candidates seeking access to residence halls are required to contact the vice president for student development or their designee so that access to the halls may be arranged since residence halls are locked 24-hours a day.
Don’t forget to make a plan to vote now. See here for more informaiton.
