Elite universities across the United States have implemented extraordinary measures to coddle students grieving over Donald Trump’s reelection victory, raising questions about the preparedness of these institutions to handle real-world challenges.
At a Glance
- Top universities canceled classes and rescheduled exams following Trump’s reelection
- Professors offered leniency on grades and provided stress-relief activities
- Universities organized events like “Election Reflection Drop-In Hours” and “Post-Election Stress” webinars
- Critics argue these measures may be coddling students rather than preparing them for real-world challenges
Universities React to Trump’s Reelection
In an unprecedented response to Donald Trump’s reelection, elite universities across the United States have taken drastic measures to support students who are allegedly struggling to cope with the election results. Institutions such as Harvard, Columbia, and the University of Pennsylvania have gone to great lengths to accommodate students, including canceling classes, rescheduling exams, and offering a variety of stress-relief activities.
These actions have sparked debate about whether universities are adequately preparing students for the challenges they will face in the real world. Critics argue that such coddling may be doing more harm than good, potentially hindering students’ ability to handle disappointment and adversity in their future careers and personal lives.
If you can’t handle people having different opinions, how can you succeed at university?
Academic Accommodations and Stress Relief
Professors at prestigious institutions have taken extraordinary steps to accommodate students’ emotional states. At Harvard, some professors canceled classes altogether, while others made quizzes optional and even shared stress-baked goods like lemon bars with their students. Similar actions were taken at Columbia, Barnard, Northwestern University, and the University of Pennsylvania, where exams were rescheduled and grades were approached with increased leniency.
“Many in our community are sleep-deprived, again grieving for glass ceilings that weren’t shattered, fearful for the future, or embarrassed to face our international colleagues,” Harvard physics professor Jennifer E. Hoffman said.
This statement raises concerns about the resilience of students at these elite institutions and their ability to face challenges in their future careers. If students are unable to cope with an election result, how will they manage the pressures of the professional world?
Beyond academic accommodations, universities have organized a variety of events and activities aimed at helping students process their emotions. The University of Pennsylvania hosted a “Care Planning Workshop” and “Election Reflection Drop-In Hours,” while MIT offered a webinar on “Post-Election Stress.” Duke University organized “destress sessions” featuring meditation and mindfulness activities.
“As we recover from the eventful election night and process the implications of Trump’s victory, please know that class will proceed as usual today, except that classroom quizzes will not be for credit,” economics lecturer Maxim Boycko told students.
These initiatives, while well-intentioned in theory, raise questions about the role of higher education institutions in preparing students for the realities of life beyond campus. Critics argue that by shielding students from disappointment and offering excessive emotional support, universities may be doing a disservice to their students’ long-term development and resilience.
Our universities need to prepare students better, because this is getting ridiculous.
