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Colleges Facing Backlash After Scrambling to Coddle Students Upset Over Trump’s Win

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Several universities across the U.S. are under fire for providing safe spaces and canceling classes to help students cope with the recent presidential election results, drawing criticism for fostering an overly sheltered campus culture.

As reported by Fox News [1], some conservatives are questioning whether these actions prepare students for the realities of life, with Campus Reform Correspondent Emily Sturge noting that universities are creating a “generation that can’t face the uncertainties and challenges of life.”

Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., faced ridicule on social media after it organized a “self-care suite” for students at its McCourt School of Public Policy to recover from election-related stress.

The suite offered comforting treats like “milk and cookies,” along with activities like “Coloring and Mindfulness Exercises” and building with “Lego” blocks.

Critic Angela Morabito from the Defense of Freedom Institute voiced her disapproval on X, questioning why Georgetown would cater to those seeking a “daycare experience” and noting that conservative students are not typically the ones looking for such comforts.

Harvard University joined the trend by canceling or relaxing course requirements for students struggling to process the election outcome.

In one course, Economics lecturer Maxim Boycko told students they could skip in-class quizzes if they felt affected by the results. Boycko’s email, quoted by The Harvard Crimson, advised students to take time off “if needed” and described classroom quizzes that day as non-credit.

This approach, however, prompted some professors and graduates to express concerns online about higher education’s direction.

Economics professor William J. Luther from Florida Atlantic University tweeted, “Stop doing this… It’s not good for your students.”

Harvard graduate Shabbos Kestenbaum echoed the sentiment, calling Ivy League schools “incubators of antisemitism, radicalism, and intellectual and moral bankruptcy.”

Similar activities were seen nationwide. The University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, set up a “walkable labyrinth” with “calming lighting and music,” as well as arts and crafts sessions to help students manage post-election anxiety.

Image Credit: University of Puget Sound Website [14]
Screenshot – University of Puget Sound Website

The University of Oregon brought in “Quacktavious the Therapy Duck” and other animals for students to interact with, according to the school’s calendar.

At Virginia Tech, therapy dogs, stretching classes, and art stations were part of the election-week schedule.

Michigan State University even saw a professor cancel her class to “grieve” the election results, posting a notice later shared widely on social media.

MSU Professor: “As a queer, immigrant, woman of color, I cannot just go on”

Class has been canceled pic.twitter.com/OEsDfFAnjJ [15]

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) November 6, 2024 [16]

The trend has drawn criticism from conservative voices, who argue that such measures are an overreaction to a democratic election process.

Sturge from Campus Reform pointed out that “democratic elections are not traumatic” and warned that by cushioning students from adversity, colleges risk impairing their ability to face future challenges.

Image Credit: PeopleImages.com - Yuri A - Shutterstock.com [17]

“Life is hard,” she remarked. “Our great-grandparents fought through WWII with sacrifice and grit – not with coloring books or puppy petting.”

Some university officials defended the measures, citing a divided social climate.

Kelly Brown, director of counseling services at the University of Puget Sound, argued, “We’re constantly hearing messages that are ‘If you don’t do it this way, everything is over,’” which she claimed justified these support activities.

“I don’t think of it as coddling,” she said, framing it as a response to current societal stress.

Even private schools have not escaped scrutiny. New York’s Ethical Culture Fieldston School excused students who felt unable to attend classes post-election.

Jerry Seinfeld, a comedian and parent of two former students, criticized this approach. “What kind of lives have these people led that makes them think that this is the right way to handle young people? To encourage them to buckle. This is the lesson they are providing, for ungodly sums of money.”