Professors at elite universities canceled classes and delayed assignments after former President Donald Trump won a second term in Tuesday’s election, giving students “space to process” and time for “grieving.”
That includes Harvard, where instructors called off at least four classes, excused absences and extended assignment deadlines the day after Mr. Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, according to The Harvard Crimson.
“Harvard Professors Cancel Classes as Students Feel Blue After Trump Win,” said the Crimson headline.
Maxim Boycko, a visiting lecturer in economics, told students in his microeconomics class that the daily quiz would be optional.
“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,” Mr. Boycko said in a Wednesday email, per the Crimson. “Feel free to take time off if needed.”
Physics professor Jenny Hoffman told students and faculty that her office would be “a space to process the election.”
“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,” she said in an email. “I stress-baked several pans of lemon bars to share.”
Needless to say, the campus coddling met with mockery on social media, including comments such as “Brighten up Buttercups!” and “Pathetic snowflakes.”
At the University of Pennsylvania, several professors canceled or made classes optional, according to The Daily Pennsylvanian.
Anthropology professor Caroline Jones rescheduled an exam to “recognize and validate the disappointment many of you expressed,” the student newspaper reported, after students said they were “concerned about the impact election results would have on their exam preparation.”
Shlagha Borah, a Michigan State University assistant professor in the Department of Writing, Rhetoric and Cultures, went viral for an email in which she reportedly canceled class to “grieve” amid the election outcome.
“I am cancelling class today to grieve the presidential election results,” Ms. Borah said in the note posted by End Wokeness. “As a queer, immigrant woman of colour, I cannot, in good conscience, go on about my day like everything is alright. This is a major historical event that we are witnessing. I hope you take this time to take care of yourself.”
Meet queer professor Shlagha Borah of @michiganstateu. She sent this memo canceling all classes to “grieve” the presidential election results. She says she can’t go about her day like normal. pic.twitter.com/fMsQKMxEIr
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) November 6, 2024
Ms. Borah’s page no longer appears on the university website. The university acknowledged the “situation” without confirming or denying the email’s authenticity.
“We have been made aware of the situation and are addressing it through the appropriate leadership channels,” a university spokesperson told The Washington Times.
Elsewhere, universities sought to help students cope by providing them access to snacks and cuddly animals.
The University of Oregon offered “Election Week Therapy Animals,” including Quacktavious the Therapy Duck, along with hot cocoa and apple cider to “promote well-being and lessen anxiety during election week.”
The University of Massachusetts at Amherst offered rock painting and brought in three therapy dogs — Rosie, Doolin and George — as part of its “Election Week Programming,” as flagged by Campus Reform, a conservative news site.
“Unplug and unwind from election angst with some music, crafts or quiet time to yourself,” said the program offered by the Center for Counseling and Psychological Health.
Meanwhile, Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy provided a “Self-Care Suite” that included “Milk and Cookies,” “a Legos Station” and “Coloring and Mindfulness Exercises,” according to a memo obtained by The Free Press.
Columbia graduate student Eliana Goldin posted emails that she said were from professors canceling or making class optional, but the university pushed back.
“We have no reports of canceled classes,” said a Columbia spokesperson. “Columbia faculty and students were in class yesterday, and our academic schedule was fully underway as usual.”
If Columbia tells you that only Barnard courses were canceled on the day after the election or that only Barnard courses eased course requirements, they’re lying.
— Eliana Goldin (@Eliana_Goldin) November 7, 2024
Literature Humanities is a Core Curriculum class at Columbia. Every freshman is required to take it. pic.twitter.com/xeShmYJw4N
Ms. Goldin responded on X by saying, “I can list 10 classes off the top of my head that were canceled.”
She included an email screenshot from “Literature Humanities” on the university’s Canvas Inbox from an instructor saying, “I hope you are hanging in there” and “if you don’t feel up for class, absences today will be excused.”
“It is clear: Columbia admin has no control over its faculty,” said Ms. Goldin.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.