Universities Give Students Space After Election
Reports of universities across the U.S. canceling classes and offering “self-care” spaces for students to process the recent presidential election results have ignited a fierce debate on whether these institutions are failing to prepare young adults for the demands of life outside the campus bubble. Criticism has emerged from academics, alumni, and commentators, all questioning if these activities are more in line with a daycare model than a higher education environment designed to foster resilience and critical thinking.
Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C., drew particular attention for its “self-care suite” offered to students at its McCourt School of Public Policy. The suite provided milk, cookies, hot cocoa, Lego toys, and mindfulness exercises to help students unwind after the election. Defense of Freedom Institute spokesperson Angela Morabito criticized the move, calling out Georgetown on social media for “coddling leftists who can’t handle reality.”
Similarly, Harvard University saw professors across multiple departments cancel classes, make attendance optional, or extend assignment deadlines. Harvard’s Crimson reported that Economics lecturer Maxim Boycko gave students the option to skip a quiz and offered them a break to “process the implications of Trump’s victory.” This is not the first time Harvard has adjusted requirements following an election outcome—similar accommodations were reportedly made after Trump’s 2016 win as well.
William J. Luther, Associate Professor of Economics at Florida Atlantic University, voiced his disapproval on social media, imploring fellow academics to abandon these practices. “It further erodes respect for higher ed and trust in academic research,” he wrote. Meanwhile, Harvard graduate Shabbos Kestenbaum pointed to a stark inconsistency, noting that “Harvard canceled zero classes” following recent world events, yet excused absences and lessened coursework following the election.
Across the country, the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, organized a full week of “self-care” activities, inviting students to a “walkable labyrinth” for relaxation, arts and crafts corners, and even dedicated “support spaces” for LGBTQ students and students of color to discuss election-related stress. Virginia Tech, Michigan State University, and the University of Oregon also organized similar programs, complete with therapy animals, yoga classes, art therapy workshops, and “restorative dialogues.” One MSU professor even canceled class entirely to “grieve” the election results, later sparking internal review after her email went viral.
Commentators have argued that these activities might leave students ill-equipped for a competitive and often challenging world. Campus Reform correspondent Emily Sturge remarked to Fox News Digital, “Universities are producing a generation that can’t face the uncertainties and challenges of life… Life is hard. It’s full of hard work, hurt feelings, sadness, and tragedy.” She compared the “self-care” offerings to activities one might expect in a daycare rather than at institutions of higher learning.
However, some university officials defend these measures, citing heightened stress and divisive rhetoric as contributing factors. Kelly Brown, director of counseling, health, and wellness services at the University of Puget Sound, told Inside Higher Ed that the events are about “paying attention to the environment around us,” suggesting that today’s political climate is uniquely charged.
Even younger students have been offered similar accommodations. Ethical Culture Fieldston School, an elite pre-K through 12th-grade private school in New York, excused students who felt “too emotionally distressed” to attend classes post-election. No homework or assessments were given on Election Day or the day after, and counselors were on hand to provide support.
The trend has even drawn commentary from comedian Jerry Seinfeld, whose sons previously attended Fieldston. Seinfeld argued that such practices could be doing a disservice to young people, saying, “To encourage them to buckle… this is the lesson they are providing, for ungodly sums of money.”