Post-Election Care of Students Isn’t Coddling

WSN Editorial Board

Following the presidential election, students, like so many other Americans, were devastated. Professors have taken steps to address these circumstances, from canceling class to making midterms optional. NYU professors have also given extensions on assignments or cancelled classes, and campus organizations have held events to address the grief many students feel. Right-wing media outlets have alluded to these instances as more examples of coddling on college campuses, where students’ hurt feelings are supposedly considered more important than an education suited for the real world. There is no reason to vilify university communities which only seek to foster an inclusive and supportive environment on campus.

Because this distress is felt largely by liberal students, conservative media outlets have chosen to paint colleges as places for young people to become soft. In doing so, they are fanning the flames of the propagandic dumpster fire of a crusade against politically correct culture in the 2016 election cycle. Regardless of whether conservatives judge students’ grief to be valid, the shared trauma experienced by students is undeniable and was appropriately taken into consideration. In a situation where a large majority of students are emotionally compromised and unable to perform their work, it is the job of the professor to recognize that and accommodate it.

It does not matter which candidate a professor voted for; a professor’s job is to serve the students. Postponing exams and other deadlines is simply making sure students can turn in their best work. If a student was in distress due to mental health issues or personal tragedy, the professor would be doing the same thing. No matter if someone feels the same grief as these students, the emotion still exists and professors should respect that. Furthermore, all students in these classes — regardless of political leanings — reap the benefit of delayed deadlines. If a professor postponed a test or assignment for any other reason, no one would be complaining. This should be no different. We would hope the same actions would be taken if students had reacted the same to another candidate’s victory.

It is a time-honored tradition for media, on both sides of the aisle, to exaggerate any sort of vaguely political action on college campuses. Yet it is clear that this election has been understandably trying for minorities and women, who have seen incidents of bigoted behavior escalate in the last few days. Professors are responsible for fostering an academic environment that is not only conducive to learning, but inspires it. Students — whether Republican or Democrat — cannot reasonably be expected to live up to their fullest academic potential immediately following such an impactful event. Professors should be allowed the authority to determine what is best for their own classroom. Demonizing them for doing the right thing is not only unproductive, but damaging to the students who are currently the most vulnerable.

A version of this article appeared in the Monday, November 14th print edition. Email the WSN Editorial Board at [email protected].