Several college professors across the country have postponed classes or exams — including at least one at Georgia Tech — to give themselves and students upset with Donald Trump’s presidential victory time to cool down from the emotions surrounding the election.
“I don’t know about you, but I was up way too late last night. I would like to propose that we take today to rest and reflect about what happened yesterday,” Jeffrey A. Davis, an associate professor in the electrical and computer engineering department, wrote in an e-mail to his students. “Personally, I am shocked and dumbfounded as to the events that occurred yesterday.”
Davis later added that the nation “has come too far to step back to places where certain groups would have us go.”
Students at several colleges have held demonstrators decrying Trump’s election. Voters between ages 18-29 preferred Democrat Hillary Clinton over Trump by 55 percent to 37 percent, according to Pew Research.
At Cornell University, some professors said they were concerned about the emotional well-being of students and cancelled classes, the Cornell Sun reported. A handful of professors at the University of Michigan and Columbia University postponed or delayed mid-terms and other exams, according to Reason.com, a Libertarian website.
Davis hung up on a reporter before he was asked for comment Thursday.
Tech officials said late Thursday that Davis will apologize to students and schedule a make-up class.
Davis sent a one sentence comment through a Tech spokeswoman.
“I intended with my email to support all students, regardless of their views on the election,” Davis said.
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