There is the real challenge, however. Many of our students are strictly following protocols, but  others are not. Just a couple of weeks into the semester, POLS faculty are hearing from students that they have tested COVID+ or are now quarantined as a close contact of someone who tested positive.

As we struggle to navigate this ongoing public health crisis, we are also grappling with problems of racial injustice on campus and in our society and threats to democracy at home and around the world. 

These are truly trying times.

But, we are trying to pull together and move forward. Even if we can’t all be in Woodburn Hall or our classrooms together, we are doing our best to stay connected with each other and our students.

We have a new POLS blog where faculty and grad students can post news about their recent books, articles, essays, and media outreach. And we have launched a virtual “Pizza and Politics” discussion series for undergrads that we hope will include gathering together on the comfy couches in the Undergraduate Commons to actually eat some Mother Bear’s before too long. We are also delighted to welcome new faculty into our community: Assistant Professor Steven Webster, and our new Center for Research on Race and Ethnic Studies (CRRES) post-doc, Chinbo Chong!

We hope that you all are managing to stay healthy and safe. Keep us posted on your news with the “Share your Story” button on our website.

Best wishes,

Lauren M. MacLean
Chair, Political Science
Professor, Political Science
Arthur Bentley Chair, Political Science