Universities and the Election Aftermath: A Question of Preparedness
Reports are coming in from universities across the U.S. about classes being canceled and “self-care” spaces set up for students to cope with the recent presidential election results. This has sparked a heated debate on whether these schools are truly preparing young adults for real life outside their campus bubble. Many academics, alumni, and commentators are asking if these actions resemble more of a daycare approach than an environment meant to build resilience and critical thinking skills.
Georgetown University’s Self-Care Suite
Georgetown University is getting particular attention for its “self-care suite” at the McCourt School of Public Policy. This suite offered milk, cookies, hot cocoa, Lego toys, and mindfulness exercises to help students unwind after the election. Angela Morabito from the Defense of Freedom Institute criticized Georgetown on social media for what she called “coddling leftists who can’t handle reality.” It raises eyebrows—shouldn’t universities be teaching students how to face challenges instead?
Harvard’s Class Cancellations
At Harvard University, professors across various departments decided to cancel classes or make attendance optional following Trump’s victory. The Crimson reported that Economics lecturer Maxim Boycko even let students skip a quiz so they could take time to process what happened. Interestingly enough, this isn’t new; similar adjustments were made after Trump’s 2016 win as well.
William J. Luther, an Associate Professor of Economics at Florida Atlantic University, took to social media expressing his disapproval of such practices. He stated that it further erodes respect for higher education and trust in academic research. Meanwhile, Harvard graduate Shabbos Kestenbaum pointed out a glaring inconsistency: while Harvard canceled no classes due to other world events recently, they relaxed requirements significantly after this election.
The Self-Care Trend Across Campuses
The trend continues with other universities like the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma organizing an entire week dedicated to “self-care” activities. They invited students into a “walkable labyrinth” for relaxation along with arts and crafts corners and special support spaces aimed at LGBTQ students and students of color dealing with election-related stress.
This isn’t just limited to one school; Virginia Tech, Michigan State University (MSU), and the University of Oregon have all jumped on board with similar programs featuring therapy animals, yoga classes, art therapy workshops—everything you might expect from a wellness retreat rather than institutions meant for rigorous academic growth! One MSU professor even went so far as to cancel class entirely just so she could “grieve” over the election results—a move that later led her department into internal review when her email went viral!
A Critical Viewpoint
Critics argue that these self-care activities might leave students ill-equipped for facing life’s challenges head-on in today’s competitive world. Emily Sturge from Campus Reform remarked that universities seem focused on producing graduates who struggle with uncertainty instead of preparing them for hard work or emotional resilience—life is tough! It comes packed with hard work alongside hurt feelings and sadness; shouldn’t colleges prepare us better?
The Defense from Some Officials
On the flip side, some university officials defend these measures by pointing out heightened stress levels among students due largely in part to divisive political rhetoric today. Kelly Brown—the director overseeing counseling services at Puget Sound—stated that their events aim at recognizing our current environment’s unique pressures.
Younger Students Feeling The Pressure Too
This trend doesn’t stop at college campuses either; younger kids are also receiving similar treatment! Ethical Culture Fieldston School—a prestigious pre-K through 12th-grade private institution located in New York—excused any student feeling too emotionally distressed post-election from attending class altogether! No homework or assessments were assigned on Election Day or afterward while counselors stood ready offering support.
A Comedian Weighs In
This situation even caught comedian Jerry Seinfeld’s attention since his sons previously attended Fieldston School too! Seinfeld argued against such practices claiming they do more harm than good by encouraging kids not only buckle under pressure but also miss valuable lessons about resilience—all while costing parents ungodly sums!
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