by
John Stevenson
By
now you have probably read of the most recent incarnation of “safe spaces” on
campus. At the University of Utah a “cry
closet” has been established to accommodate stressed-out students who are
overwhelmed by the tremendous pressures of college.
The
cry closet is located in the J. Willard Marriott Library. It was a product of a class project completed
by Nemo Miller and two of her classmates.
The
idea is that students distressed by the pressures of final exams could go into
the closet where they would find a darkened environment, plush floor, fabric
walls, soft materials, stuffed animals, and other toys. There the distraught could have a good cry
and emerge stress-free.
The
cry closet was endorsed by the University.
Spokesperson Jana Cunningham said the cry closet was a place to “Just
let it all out. Let yourself just get
away from your studies….”
Some
students were enthusiastic about the cry closet: Student Jayde said “I think one of these should be everywhere
all the time.” Others took a different
view, such as: “Way to prepare students
for the real word. Wonder how many prospective employers have cry closets?” A Utah ex-Congressman called it “pathetic.”
So
there were conflicting opinions of the cry closet, the purpose of which was to
provide a space for students who were feeling overwhelmed with the stress of
finals.
Cry
closet creator Nemo Miller explained her reason for creating the cry closet in
this enlightening statement: “I am
interested in humanity and the inherent complexities of the human
condition. In my work, I reflect on my
experiences and explore what it means to be human. One aspect of humanity that I am currently
exploring is connections and missed connections through communication. It’s been interesting to watch the response
to this piece about human emotions, and I’m proud to see the power of art in
action.” Got all that?
The
University of Utah has taken down its cry closet with the May 2 end of
finals. However, it is likely this silly
concept will not slink away in ignominy but will metastasize and blossom on
other American college campuses.
Let’s
think for a moment about other college-age Americans and the stresses they
faced. Some of those in our parents’
generation came of-age on Omaha Beach and Iwo Jima. Were there safe spaces and cry closets?
In
their teens, our own contemporaries fought at Inchon and in Viet Nam. No cry closets on either of those
campuses.
More
recently American youngsters were tasked with taking Fallujah (twice) and dispatching
Osama bin Laden to his Paradise. No cry
closets along those trails either.
Still
today, college-age Americans go through U.S. Navy SEAL training, USMC recruit
training at Parris Island, and U.S. Army Ranger training. Again, no safe spaces or cry closets.
Not
to say that nowadays most teens join the military, let alone its elite
units. Few do. But even in the civilian world there are likely
not many employers who supply time-out spaces for employees who think they are
stressed and need to cuddle a teddy bear.
Looking
back on it, college was pretty stress-free compared with later life. More-or-less-equal parts studying and
partying. Encouraging college students
to believe they are under great stress is a disservice. Particularly leading them to believe that
relieving their stress is a legitimate function of the university---even its
duty.
This
would be funny except for the fact that it sabotages the already slim chance
that what nowadays passes for a liberal arts college education will prepare a
student for the world that awaits.
