Political Activity Guidance
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Feature by: Darlene Wilson, Assistant Vice President for Finance and Controller
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With election season upon us again, please take a moment to review Whitman College’s institutional responsibility, as a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization, to refrain from engaging in certain political activities.
Federal law prohibits tax-exempt institutions from engaging in partisan political activity. The IRS looks for such activity, especially during an election cycle. The college could face the loss of its tax-exempt status, incur additional taxes or be subject to other risks including lawsuits, audits and investigations if such prohibited activity takes place.
As individuals, we are free to express our beliefs and exercise our political rights. Any political favoritism or intervention by a person acting in their capacity as a representative of the college may jeopardize our tax-exempt status. Adherence to these laws is not meant to nor should it inhibit the academic integrity of Whitman College, nor stifle student or faculty activities and organizations.
To help you navigate your political participation this election season, please refer to the following guidelines:
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- Avoid any sort of institutional intervention on behalf of a political party or candidate for any public office. The college cannot be seen as favoring or opposing any candidate or political party.
- Individuals working for the college are free to express their opinions or beliefs about candidates as long as these statements are not printed in official publications or stated at official functions, or otherwise expressed in their capacity as a representative of the college.
- It is permissible to take positions on public policy issues, but tax laws prohibit any issue advocacy expressing favor or opposition to a candidate.
- Candidate appearances and voter education activities, including voter registration, Get Out the Vote drives, and distribution or publication of voter guides are permissible as long as they are conducted in a nonpartisan manner.
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The activities mentioned above provide a non-comprehensive summary of the relevant tax laws, formally stated in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. I would be happy to discuss this more fully, especially if your position or interests raise questions with respect to this issue.
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Biology Professor Awarded NSF Grant
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Professor of Biology Tim Parker was awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support his investigation of the ways that decisions made by researchers can influence the reliability of scientific conclusions. Specifically, this project will test ideas about how researchers’ decisions made during data analysis could cause different scientists to draw different conclusions from the same data. Parker and his colleagues will use the outcome of this study to start conversations within the scientific community about data analysis practices. The grant will support undergraduate researchers in Biology, Math and Statistics, and Computer Science, and will enable the creation of teaching modules for an ecology lab and a statistical modeling class.
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Astronomy Professor Publishes Paper in The Astrophysics Journal
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Community Learning Days This Week
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Faculty and staff are encouraged to attend a two-part Community Learning Days event on Monday, Aug. 26 and Tuesday, Aug. 27 from 2–3:30 p.m. in Maxey Auditorium. The first session will feature a panel discussion on “How We Engage.” The second session will feature a series of “flash talks” focused on different Communal Support Systems available at Whitman. Refreshments will be provided.
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Donuts With the Dean Next Week
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Stop by the front of Reid Campus Center on Tuesday, Sept. 3 between 8–10 a.m. to enjoy a donut and take a picture with Dean of Students Kazi Joshua.
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Stationery Portal Closes Next Week
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Don’t miss the twice-yearly opportunity to get bulk pricing on Whitman-branded stationery. The online portal will be open through Tuesday, Sept. 3. Estimated delivery is Wednesday, Oct. 16. As a reminder, your portal login information is not the same as your Whitman login. Questions? Contact Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Communications Andrea Volz at 509-527-5160 or volza@whitman.edu.
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Photo (@whitmancollege): Geology students Ian McClelland ’26 (left) and Elizabeth Huang ’25 (middle), under the guidance of Professor Pat Spencer (right), the Grace F. Phillips Professor of Geology, are conducting field research on gravel bars formed by two major ancient flood events—the Missoula Floods and the Bonneville Flood, which occurred between 15,000–18,000 years ago.
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Would you like to share an event with campus? Submit the information to the Events Calendar.
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Produced by the Office of Communications, Whitman Today is emailed to Whitman College staff, faculty and students each weekday during the academic year and twice a week during breaks. An archive of previous issues is available online.
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