Several classes at Harvard University were canceled on Wednesday so students could process the aftermath of President-elect Trump’s win.
In some classes, attendance was optional and deadlines for assignments were extended. Economics lecturer Maxim Boycko wrote in a Wednesday email to students in Economics 1010a: “Intermediate Microeconomics” that the course’s typical in-class quizzes would be optional, The Harvard Crimson reported.
“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.”
One student, Jack A. Kelly, told the newspaper that he was tempted not to attend classes.
“I had some professors that have been like, ‘If you need to not come to class, that’s understandable’,” he said. “This definitely takes a toll on people’s mental wellbeing.”
Some students were shocked by Trump’s landslide win over Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Being at Harvard, I was surrounded by a lot of people who were very pro-Harris, so in my mind it was already a decided election,” said Samantha Holtz. “It was a little bit shocking to me.”
