Harvard, We Have a Problem

"Elite" Universities are No Longer Preparing for Leadership

Earlier this month, in the aftermath of the US election, a disturbing trend occurred at several universities, including elite ones like Harvard and Georgetown. At these schools, numerous students were so distraught they needed special support after the election. Some of these extra things to help the student’s mental health seem laughable.

Some Harvard professors cancelled classes, made class attendance optional, or extended assignment due dates to allow distraught students to take time to recover from their shock. The Harvard Crimson reported Economics lecturer Maxim Boycko emailed students:

“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,” Boycko wrote. “Feel free to take time off if needed.”

Over at Georgetown University, a "self-care suite" was set up at the McCourt School of Public Policy offering treats of milk and cookies and hot cocoa as well as toys like Legos and Coloring to help them deal with the election results.

Not to be outdone, the University of Puget Sound offered a full week of “Self-Care” including comfort dogs, a calming labyrinth, and various “safe spaces.”

Professors at Michigan State University as well as numerous others, turned classes into “safe spaces” so their students could deal with the election results. Counselor Dr. Erica Pearson at Kalamazoo College argued the election result could lead to extreme reactions caused by the psychological fight-flight-freeze response. Think about this, university students are so distraught over an election that they are in a total fight-flight-freeze response, which means that rational thought has stopped.

In defense of these actions, Jason Epps, PhD, a philosophy and ethics professor at Austin Community College, reported:

In the days following the election, I devoted the entirety of class time to allowing students to share. In each of the five in-person courses I teach, students vented, shared and supported each other in, yes, a safe space. This is what education is. Shepherding students through the real world under the watchful eye of teachers and professors who are not just experts in their subject, but who are mentors who love them and realize that their future is at stake.

He further responded to those who were upset about these reports saying:

I’m sorry that so many believe this approach “doesn’t prepare students for the real world.” To those who utter such foolishness, I say this: My students are already in the real world. They know as much or more about the real world as I do. And if you think that supporting them and allowing them to process during what is, to them, a difficult season, then you are part of the problem.

His attack of those who disagree is especially telling. He argues his students have it rough, and if we do not help them, we are part of the problem. One cannot help but wonder if there was a “safe space” at any of these places for students who voted for president-elect Trump.

What Is the Problem?

It seems to me schools that take this sort of approach are not preparing their students to become leaders. Perspective is important here: this was an election. Presidential elections happen every four years, which means every four years approximately half of the country is disappointed with the outcome. If you add in congressional elections, this happens every other year. This is not a new situation.

One also must wonder about the culture at these institutions. First, it seems many of the faculty have repeated the most radical insinuations about a former president of the United States, who I might add, did not institute totalitarianism during four years in office. The overheated rhetoric, calling those who supported president-elect Trump evil, is not a sign of a mature intellectual environment. Second, if students were this distraught, it means they are out of step with most of the country and seem to be unfamiliar with people holding differing views. Third, students at these institutions were so upset they appear to have been unable to function without special emotional support, which is not how you develop mature adults and leaders.

Generally, one attends a college or university, especially elite ones like Harvard and Georgetown, to prepare themselves for leadership. Yet the atmosphere at these places appears to be more based on comforting and coddling the students. Comforting students with milk and cookies is elementary school level, not university level support! Even the liberal-leaning Chronicle of Higher Education, published an essay: “Stop Treating Students Like Babies.”[1]

A leader needs to be able to handle bad news. To be honest, it worried me that Vice President Harris left her election watch party and, rather than address her supporters as scheduled, had a surrogate go out to address them. It took her until the following day to address her supporters in her concession speech. It is very disturbing to learn someone who almost became president of the United States needed to leave in the face of bad news, rather than put on a brave face and comfort her supporters.

A leader also needs to be familiar with the views of those around them, including those with whom they disagree. Since a majority of the voters in the United States voted for Trump, this is not a radical fringe perspective. I think everyone should attempt to have and foster relationships with people who think and vote differently from themselves. Obviously, most Americans are not fearful of a second Trump administration. So, for university students to be this out of touch is very disconcerting.

Better Options

Here, I must point out that the choice is not between a radical university and no higher education; there are some good institutions out there. Even within the state universities, all are not the same. As I understand it ones which are more focused on engineering and similar occupations tend to not be as caught up in the Woke movement because they must be focused on objective standards (like if the bridge will stand or not).

When looking at a more liberal arts school, I believe the best options would have a combination of Christian, ideally Lutheran, background as well as a strong classical core. The classical core is important because it helps foster critical thinking as well as an understanding of the great debates throughout history which can then help inform our present challenges.

The one school aimed completely at this junction is the forthcoming Luther Classical College.[2] Concordia Chicago has also developed a classical Lutheran education track. Concordia University Nebraska has maintained a strong Lutheran identity. When seeking a Lutheran higher education, beware that bearing the name “Concordia” does not always guarantee a strong Lutheran core, as most clearly show in Concordia University Edmonton renouncing Christianity as well as the challenges regarding Concordia University Texas in Austin.

Outside of the strictly Lutheran circles, other good choices exist. Hillsdale College is a highly respected and rigorous school, and Patrick Henry College is another excellent choice. I know of others but am not trying to give an exhaustive list.

My main point is you need to do your homework before you go off to a college or university to make sure the school will truly prepare you for leadership with a strong grounding. Having an impressive name, like Harvard or Georgetown, and great history is not enough to ensure that the school is still living up to its founding principles.

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[1] Amna Khalid and Jeffery Aaron Snyder, “Stop Treating Students Like Babies: They Are Citizens in a Democracy, Not Infants in a Nursery,” The Chronicle of Higher Education, 8 November 2024, https://www.chronicle.com/article/stop-treating-students-like-babies.

[2] Full disclosure: I am aiding in the founding of Luther Classical College by serving on two committees.