The following message was sent to the campus community from Senior Vice President for Student Affairs & Public Safety Ginger Ambler on Oct. 29, 2025 – Ed.
Dear Students,
In just under a week, the Commonwealth will be conducting state and local elections in which many of you will participate.
Election seasons are inherently uncertain. To help navigate this, I invite you to connect with our university’s many resources. To signal your interest and engage at your own pace, you may find our Election Barometer helpful.
We can be proud of William & Mary’s rich history of civic engagement, our willingness to engage one another’s ideas with curiosity, and our strong sense of community. The university is among just 47 campuses nationwide that has earned the Platinum Seal from the nonprofit ALL IN, recognition for reaching an 82.4% voting rate on campus.
Equally important to this participation is how we engage with one another. Earlier this semester, I shared ways to practice civil discourse, including resources William & Mary offers to help our community engage across differences. Those remain important.
Additionally, our community has broadly embraced the principles of Better Arguments. I trust those core principles will be helpful as you engage in respectful discussions both inside and outside the classroom.
Each year questions arise about free speech on campus. The attached PDF addresses frequently asked questions and provides links to additional guidance and campus resources.
William & Mary has played a pivotal role in the shaping of democracy since the founding of the United States. Together we will continue to lead essential efforts to practice and promote democratic ideals in the pursuit of a more perfect union, relying on our laws, our history, and our strong sense of community to guide us.
Sincerely,
Ginger Ambler
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Virginia M. Ambler ’88, Ph.D. ‘06
Senior Vice President for Student Affairs & Public Safety
William & Mary
757-221-1236
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