by Jasmine Lee, Ph.D.
Director of Inclusive Excellence and Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Division of Student Affairs
I woke up this morning thinking about the election and thinking about safety. The “Election” took place on Tuesday evening, but it took us days to determine the final outcome. So many of us were anxiously checking the count and religiously reviewing credible sources, as we worked to get our heads wrapped around what our “tomorrow” would look like.
I am positive that we have all likely been anxious to some degree leading up to this year’s Presidential election. No matter what political leaning we each may have, which candidate we support, or which issues are important to us, the road to this year’s presidential election has been long and trying. Not just the election, but all that we’ve lived through in 2020 – uprisings in response to historical and present day racial injustice, natural disasters impacted by changes to our climate, and a global pandemic – has brought all of us to this same exact moment. What I also know is that the outcome of this election will impact each of us differently, and some of us disproportionately. Some of us are considering the outcome as connected to our political ideology, community values, and thoughts on government involvement, while others are thinking about the outcome as connected to our daily ability to safely live whole, full, and free lives. More than just the outcome of the final vote count, many of us are thinking about safety in the days ahead.
At UMBC we value our diverse community and diverse perspectives. We also know that because we are a global community, guaranteeing safety for all can be challenging, unless we all commit to supporting one another. Acknowledging the inability to guarantee safety should not be a cause for concern, but an acknowledgement that we each experience the world differently, and that we should think proactively about engaging in self- and community-care. Safety as I’m talking about it here falls into three different categories:
- Psychological safety is being able to show and employ one's self without fear of negative consequences to self-image, status or career. It can be defined as a shared belief that the community is safe for interpersonal risk taking. If you have not already done so, begin thinking about your psychological safety. Develop a list of people in your work space, home, friend, or allied community, you talk to when you’re feeling nervous about sharing your opinions or thoughts at work, at your internship, or in your organization meeting. I absolutely encourage dialogue and discourse across difference, but NOT when it places you in psychological harm. Saying no, or choosing not to engage in dialogue is an act of radical self-care.
- Emotional safety refers to an emotional state achieved in communal relationships wherein each individual is open and vulnerable, and feels free to be so. Over the next few weeks, you or folks in your community may experience a number of reactions. Emotional reactions are normal and expected. On many occasions emotional aftershocks or stress reactions appear immediately and some may appear in a few hours or several days/weeks after. If and when this happens, I encourage you to reach out to talk to someone. It may be helpful to talk to someone who is not experiencing the same feelings as you. Our Counseling Center staff are here to help. In addition to talking to someone, consider making plans to surround yourself with affirming peers, to listen to music or talks that nourish your soul, or to simply press pause on media outlets when you feel overwhelmed.
- Physical safety is the absence of harm or injury that can be experienced by any person from a physical object or practices that include a physical object. Physical safety is also about protecting yourself and others. Between now and the inauguration, there could be any number of celebrations, demonstrations, uprisings, protests, or counter-protests for different reasons. I encourage all UMBC community members to participate in activism and civic engagement in any way that best fits your needs. Planning around safety should include following COVID-19 protocols, having emergency contact numbers readily available, and sharing your safety plan with loved ones in advance. If you plan to engage in protests or demonstrations, here are some tips you may want to keep in mind:
- Be aware of the behavior of those around you and report suspicious behavior.
- Monitor traffic reports, weather reports, and emergency notifications.
- Dress for the weather and your comfort and consider wearing layers of clothing.
- Let someone who is not going with your group know your plan.
- Stay with your group. Have a predetermined plan on where to meet if you get separated.
- Stay hydrated and bring snacks/food with you as many businesses may close.
- Have a secondary communication plan in case cell phone signals are limited.
- More things to consider safety in protesting.
As you are thinking about your own plan for safety in the days ahead, consider some of the recommendations provided by the Women’s Center and University Health Services. Would you like help developing a safety plan? Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion & Belonging (i3b) is here to help (i3b@umbc.edu)!
No matter what, know that you are not alone. We are not all in the same boat … but we are certainly all weathering the same storm. What makes UMBC unique is our ability to keep our shared values and connected relationships at the center of all that we do - even weathering a challenging 2020 Presidential Election. As a UMBC student, faculty, staff member, or alum, you can find support from our community. There are a number of ways to engage in listening and dialogue with one another in the coming weeks ahead. As you weigh your capacity to engage with our community, your own family/friends, or even strangers from the internet, always make sure your safety (psychological, emotional, and/or physical) is your top priority. In the days ahead, commit to spending some time to think about how you will engage in self-care, community-care, and safety planning.
Contact the author, Jasmine Lee, at jaslee@UMBC.edu.
