Election 2020 Resources

As we approach an election that has been marked by tumult and divisiveness, we come together as a community to understand the dynamics that brought us to this moment, to offer support in the face of uncertainty, and to find ways to move ourselves and the issues we care about forward. Many of you are already doing the work of rethinking, reimagining, reorganizing, and building that comes during a major shift in the landscape.

You’ll find many resources here, and more to be added. If you have additional resources, events, or opportunities you'd like to share for inclusion on this page, please send them to website@bennington.edu. 

Student Support

Open/Extended Office Hours

  • Ali Tartaglia will hold open office hours all day on November 4; Academic Services staff will also hold expanded open hours, and Laurie Kobik and Zeke Bernstein from the Provost and Dean’s Office will be available 1:30-2:30 pm for drop-in zoom visits.  
  • The Scope/Atrium will be staffed on November 4 by Student Life for drop-in appointments 
  • For individual support, please contact the Counseling Center directly between 9:00 am-5:00 pm. After hours, please contact Campus Safety who will contact the on-call therapist on your behalf.

If you have concerns regarding race, religious identity, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and other individual markers of personal identity

Christine Winget, Acting Dean of Students, Student Life
Delia Saenz, Vice President for Institutional Inclusion, Equity, and Leadership Development, Diversity and Inclusion
Ken Collamore, Director of Campus Safety
Matt Scott, Director of Student Engagement, Student Life
Ali Tartaglia, Director of Student Health Promotion, Student Life
Sam Clement, Assistant Director of Residential Life, Student Life
Christine Congelosi-Lulla, Student Life Coordinator, Student Life
Sarah Blizzard, Assistant Director of Residential Life, Student Life
Any member of the Psychological Services staff, Student Life staff
Any member of the Psychological Services staff 

 

If you have concerns about your student visa or immigration status

Kate Child, Assistant Dean for Academic Services, International Student Services

If you have concerns about sexual assault, sexual violence, or sexual harassment

Ali Tartaglia, Director of Student Health Promotion, Student Life
April Stein, Director of Psychological Services, Confidential psychological counseling
Randy Anselmo, Director of Health Services, Confidential health counseling
Oceana Wilson, Title IX coordinator,  Investigation and disciplinary processes
Any member of Campus Safety staff, Concerns regarding behavior

If you have concerns about changes to financial aid

Heather Clifford, Director of Financial Aid
Christine Collamore, Assistant Director of Financial Aid

If you have concerns about safety on campus or off

Campus Safety
Student Life

If you are feeling anxious, depressed, or hopeless

And want to process with peers:
House Chairs
Student organizations
SEPC

And having feelings of harming self or others:  
April Stein, Director of Psychological Services
Campus Safety, emergency services

If you are looking for ways to take care of yourself

Ali Tartaglia, Director of Student Health Promotion, Student Life
April Stein, Director of Psychological Services
Randy Anselmo, Director of Health Services

If you’re feeling isolated in your political views

Christine Winget, Acting Dean of Students, Student Life
Any member of the Student Life staff

If you are looking for open spaces for contemplation

Lens (building outside of CAPA)
Upper Level of the Student Center

If you are looking for a support group 

There will be a Mindfulness Group gathering on November 4 at 9:00 am 
There will be a Support Gathering on November 4 7:00 pm (in lieu of the Survivor’s Group)

Curricular opportunities

If you would like to suggest a pop-up course

If you're talking with a faculty member about the election, and feel like you want to expand the conversation and bring in more students, you might suggest a Pop-Up course for this term or next. The course would need to be proposed--by the faculty member--to the Curriculum Planning Committee.

If you would like to suggest a speaker to bring to campus

Please submit your idea.

If you have questions about the impact on academics

Laurie Kobik, Dean of Studies, Academic Services
Kate Child, Assistant Dean for Academic Services, International Student Services
Noelle Murphy, Assistant Dean for Academic Services
Your faculty advisor

If you have concerns about the impact on your Field Work Term

Faith McClellan, Associate Dean of Work-Integrated Learning, Field Work Term

Community engagement

If you have additional resources, events, or opportunities you'd like to share for inclusion on this page, please send them to website@bennington.edu. 

A Message from the Bennington Beacon 

At this critical political juncture, The Bennington Beacon is committed to providing a space for your voice—a space that prioritizes  free expression, independent thought, and productive discourse. Share with us your thoughts, anxieties, hopes, and fears surrounding the Presidential election.

Our submissions in every category—arts, news, opinions—are open for exactly this purpose. Speaking out is standing up, and we must stand together, strong, as a community right now.

JEDI Advising 

J.E.D.I Advisors are interns at the Office of Diversity and Inclusion who are dedicated to supporting students as you navigate your way through Bennington College.

Book a JEDI Advising session:

Ara Aman
Rojay Bryan

Shuttle to Polling Location 

Shuttle to the Polling Station
The college will be offering a special shuttle service to the Bennington Fire Station at 130 River St on Election Day. Add this event to your calendar.