Unifying After a Heated Election

The day after one of the most contentious presidential elections in history, AU president Jon Alger and several faculty and staff members spoke about coming together during the university's second Unity Meal.

"Tonight, we're here in the spirit of community to talk about something other than vote counts," Alger said during the November 6 dinner at the Washington College of Law. "As we saw yesterday and in all the weeks and months leading up to it, democracy can be messy, difficult, and even confounding. So, as we gather tonight, where does that leave us? First, we're together. We showed up for one another. That matters."

While the nation and the world has experienced upheaval since the founding of the university, AU's commitment to service has remained a constant, Alger said. "Starting tonight, we can take the passion we devote to the electoral process and channel it into finding ways to serve others."

During the event-emceed by Amy Dacey, SPA/MA '95, executive director of the Sine Institute of Policy and Politics-Alger also discussed AU's Week of Kindness, which kicked off on November 10. The celebration, which coincides with World Kindness Day on November 13, includes nearly 20 events.

"The idea behind the Week of Kindness is that we must be proactive about building community with those around us," Alger said. "We're not talking about random acts of kindness, but rather intentional acts of kindness. This is an effort in which all of us can take part. We can even make it innovative and fun-and perhaps start a new tradition."

Alger's remarks opened a brief program featuring other faculty and staff members. In order of their remarks, they included:

• Caty Borum, executive director of the Center for Media and Social Impact in the School of Communication,told three anecdotes showing how humor can connect people. One of the anecdotes involved Negin Farsad, a comedian who is a frequent guest on the NPR show Wait Wait . . . Don't Tell Me! Farsad used comedy to connect with people in the 2013 documentary, The Muslims Are Coming!, which explored Islamaphobia. "Humor is a way for us to find common ground," Borum said.

• Kate Gunthert, professor of psychology and director of the AU Stress and Emotion Lab in the College of Arts and Sciences, spoke of the divisions within the US, acknowledging that "there's stress and uncertainty ahead." It's important to be resilient, to take action on important issues, and to practice self-care, Gunther said. "It's important to be agents of change while taking cares of ourselves"
• Dayne Hutchinson, assistant vice president for student engagement and success, said AU helped more than 900 students register to vote and cast absentee ballots in September during the fourth AU Absentee Ballot Days.

• Dacey noted the difference between running for the presidency and carrying out the duties of the office. "Campaigns are about contrasts," she said. "Governing is about consensus. The road ahead is about finding that consensus."

AU's first Unity Meal was held on the quad on October 7 on the anniversary of Hamas's attack on Israel. The series continues in January dinners around Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Inauguration Day.