In one of the more recent efforts to stimulate moral discourse on campus, faculty, staff and students can share their visions on national and international issues through a new instant, online poll.

The Vision Poll, named after the CWRU Share the Vision campaign to realize a just and humane campus community, made it's debut this week with a question about whether the UN is still a viable international organization for peaceful resolutions of international conflict.

Future electronic queries, which are accessible through a direct link on the main University homepage, will likely address the Iraq War and the University of Michigan's admission policy case, among other hot topics.

"We hope this online poll will have the effect of raising—for dialogue—student, faculty and staff opinions on current events in the world," said Jes Sellers, director of University Counseling Services & Collegiate Behavioral Health.

The Vision Poll team of faculty, staff and students creates questions and answer choices that are posted each Monday and run throughout the week. Up-to-date results appear after an individual votes or responds to a question. When applicable, links to additional information or related campus Web sites are included with the tally. Summary results of past polls also will be available.

This new poll joins a handful of nonscientific surveys popping up on University Web sites, including a new MyCWRU poll and one sponsored by Undergraduate Student Government (USG). Whereas the USG and MyCWRU polls focus on topics of general interest—like how students view direct contact from telemarketers and reaction to reality shows—the Vision Poll aims to engage the campus community in virtual discourse only on issues of national and global importance.

"The Share the Vision Committee has always planned campus programs designed to stimulate dialogue about important, timely issues," said Mayo Bulloch, director of educational enhancement programs. "With the Vision Poll, we hope to stimulate a 'virtual' dialogue, one that raises awareness about important local, national and international events and one that prompts students, faculty, staff and community members to think about important issues."

The Vision Poll embodies the mission—part of which is to promote respect for new ideas and encourage examination and discussion of differing opinions—of the Share the Vision program. The group's other affirmations are to support the worth and dignity of each individual; appreciate and enjoy the CWRU community's rich cultural, ethnic and racial diversity; strive for excellence and integrity in teaching, scholarship, research and service; and promote justice and compassion on campus and in the world.

The electronic queries also personify the University's new vision, which calls in part for the CWRU community to be "guided in all of its labors by values defined and sustained by constant moral discourse." The new poll advances University values like being socially responsible, having bold aspirations of national and global leadership; and promoting a diverse, challenging, supportive environment of openness and respect.

To learn more about Share the Vision, go to http://ess.cwru.edu/vision.