Higher Education

After Trump victory, OU dean advises students to ‘take intentional breaths, drink water’

November 7, 2024

Ray Carter

In recent years, the outcome of an election has been treated as a trauma-level event by many officials, particularly at the college level.

The University of Oklahoma is apparently not an exception.

In a post-election Nov. 6 post on X, David Surratt, vice president for Student Affairs & Dean of Students at the University of Oklahoma, declared, “Election results can stir a lot of emotions—let’s remember we have the power to care for ourselves and each other. Take breaks, reach out to friends, take intentional breaths, drink water, and check in with those around you. We’re a community, and support is here if you need it. Let’s take care of one another.”

Surratt’s statement is in line with similar advice handed out at other colleges across the country.

Even before the Nov. 5 presidential election, Jaclyn Clevenger, the director of student engagement at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, sent an email to students announcing a “self-care suite” that that included the provision of cocoa, Legos, coloring exercises, and milk and cookies, according to The Free Press.

Officials with Voters of Tomorrow Oklahoma, which worked to support Democratic candidates in this year’s election, similarly shared “self-care” tips in the lead-up to the election.

On Nov. 3, the group’s account on X tweeted, “As Election Day approaches, our executive team will be sharing what they do for self-care during this rather stressful but exciting time,” highlighting how the group’s legislative and political director “treats herself to nature during this election season!”

Straight Arrow News highlighted some other colleges that provided “coping spaces” for students after the election. According to the site, Washington University in St. Louis provided drop-in counseling sessions for students.

While election tensions are normally felt by supporters of both political parties, the emphasis on “self-care” on college campuses often appears amplified when a Republican wins the presidency, and less so when a Democratic candidate prevails.

[For more stories about higher education in Oklahoma, visit AimHigherOK.com.]