At Georgetown University in Washington, DC, students who are dreading listening to political views different from their own are being offered “self-care suites” to help them cope as the 2024 United States presidential elections are underway.

These apolitical cocoons offer students a variety of comfort items, such as milk, cookies, hot cocoa, colouring books, and even a Lego station, and an escape from anything resembling political discourse.

The McCourt School of Public Policy has launched them, according to&nbsp;the New York Post.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-casts-vote-in-florida-says-hell-accept-defeat-if-its-a-fair-election-773654">Donald Trump casts vote in Florida, says he’ll accept defeat if it’s 'a fair election'</a>

<h2>'Stressful times'</h2>

In an email sent to students, Jaclyn Clevenger, Georgetown's Director of Student Engagement, invited the McCourt community to gather in the “third floor Commons” to unwind with mindfulness activities and refreshments.

The suites are open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (local time), offering an environment focused solely on relaxation.

“In recognition of these stressful times, all McCourt community members are welcome to gather … in the 3rd floor Commons to take a much-needed break, joining us for mindfulness activities and snacks throughout the day,” wrote Clevenger in the email obtained by The Free Press.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-casts-vote-in-florida-says-hell-accept-defeat-if-its-a-fair-election-773654">Donald Trump casts vote in Florida, says he’ll accept defeat if it’s 'a fair election'</a>

<h2>'Right way to handle young people?'</h2>

Just last week, news of the Ethical Culture Fieldston School, a private school in New York City, offering its students the option to take a day off if they found themselves emotionally distressed after the election surfaced.

Slamming the coddling, Comedian Jerry Seinfeld a former Fieldston parent, Seinfeld, questioned, “What kind of lives have these people led that makes them think that this is the right way to handle young people?”

“To encourage them to buckle. This is the lesson they are providing, for ungodly sums of money,” he remarked in a conversation with the New York Times.

Watch | US Election 2024: Will Americans Choose A First Woman President?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-election-2024-will-americans-choose-a-first-woman-president-773660/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2>Universities coddling students?</h2>

Other universities, like the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, have also introduced similar wellness offerings to support students in processing Election Day stress.

Puget Sound students can avail not just one day but a week-long line-up of calming activities — beyond Election Day. Options for relaxation include a “walkable labyrinth” with “calming lighting and music,” snacks and a creative space for arts and crafts such as beading and canvas-bag decorating.

Later in the week, those still feeling anxious due to the heated political environment can attend a “Pause for Paws” event, where they can relax with therapy animals while slurping hot chocolate.

Additional post-election programmes for “victims” of political willies at the institute include a “post-election processing space” for journaling, collage-making, and comfort food, featuring a baked potato bar.

(With inputs from agencies)

At Georgetown University in Washington, DC, students who are dreading listening to political views different from their own are being offered “self-care suites” to help them cope as the 2024 United States presidential elections are underway.

At Georgetown University in Washington, DC, students who are dreading listening to political views different from their own are being offered “self-care suites” to help them cope as the 2024 United States presidential elections are underway. These apolitical cocoons offer students a variety of comfort items, such as milk, cookies, hot cocoa, colouring books, and even a Lego station, and an escape from anything resembling political discourse. The McCourt School of Public Policy has launched them, according to the New York Post. Also read | Donald Trump casts vote in Florida, says he’ll accept defeat if it’s 'a fair election' 'Stressful times' In an email sent to students, Jaclyn Clevenger, Georgetown's Director of Student Engagement, invited the McCourt community to gather in the “third floor Commons” to unwind with mindfulness activities and refreshments. The suites are open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (local time), offering an environment focused solely on relaxation. “In recognition of these stressful times, all McCourt community members are welcome to gather … in the 3rd floor Commons to take a much-needed break, joining us for mindfulness activities and snacks throughout the day,” wrote Clevenger in the email obtained by The Free Press. Also read | Donald Trump casts vote in Florida, says he’ll accept defeat if it’s 'a fair election' 'Right way to handle young people?' Just last week, news of the Ethical Culture Fieldston School, a private school in New York City, offering its students the option to take a day off if they found themselves emotionally distressed after the election surfaced. Slamming the coddling, Comedian Jerry Seinfeld a former Fieldston parent, Seinfeld, questioned, “What kind of lives have these people led that makes them think that this is the right way to handle young people?” “To encourage them to buckle. This is the lesson they are providing, for ungodly sums of money,” he remarked in a conversation with the New York Times. Watch | US Election 2024: Will Americans Choose A First Woman President? Universities coddling students? Other universities, like the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, have also introduced similar wellness offerings to support students in processing Election Day stress. Puget Sound students can avail not just one day but a week-long line-up of calming activities — beyond Election Day. Options for relaxation include a “walkable labyrinth” with “calming lighting and music,” snacks and a creative space for arts and crafts such as beading and canvas-bag decorating. Later in the week, those still feeling anxious due to the heated political environment can attend a “Pause for Paws” event, where they can relax with therapy animals while slurping hot chocolate. Additional post-election programmes for “victims” of political willies at the institute include a “post-election processing space” for journaling, collage-making, and comfort food, featuring a baked potato bar. (With inputs from agencies)

US Election: Coddling or self-care? Georgetown offers students milk, cookies and apolitical cocoons

Georgetown University Law Center said on Thursday that it had fired an adjunct professor who made “abhorrent” remarks about Black students on a video call and had placed another adjunct who was on the call with her on administrative leave.

The two adjunct professors, Sandra A. Sellers and David C. Batson, seemed to be unaware they were being recorded, according to a roughly 40-second clip of their conversation that generated widespread outrage after it was shared online.

In the clip, Sellers, a mediator with experience in intellectual property and high-tech disputes, discussed the evaluation of Black students with Batson after their virtual class had ended, according to the university.

“You know what? I hate to say this,” Sellers said on the video. “I end up having this angst every semester that a lot of my lower ones are Blacks — happens almost every semester. And it’s like, ‘Oh, come on.’ You know? You get some really good ones. But there are also usually some that are just plain at the bottom. It drives me crazy.”

As she spoke, Batson murmured, “Mm-hmm,” but did not challenge her remarks.

After the video prompted condemnation from students and alumni, the dean of the law school, William M. Treanor, said he had referred the matter to the university’s Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity &amp; Affirmative Action, which had begun an investigation. He called the contents of the video, which the university learned about this week, “abhorrent” and said it “included reprehensible statements concerning the evaluation of Black students.”

“It includes conduct that has no place in our educational community,” Treanor wrote to the law school on Wednesday. “We must ensure that all students are treated fairly and evaluated on their merits.”

On Thursday morning, the university’s Black Law Students Association posted a letter to the administration calling for Sellers to be terminated and urging the law school to audit the grades and student evaluations in her past classes.

The video revealed not only Sellers’ “true beliefs about Black students,” the association wrote, “it is also illustrative of the conscious and unconscious bias systematically present in law school grading at Georgetown Law and in law school classrooms nationwide.”

In a second message to the law school on Thursday, Treanor said he had spoken to Sellers and Batson, “giving each the opportunity to provide any additional context.”

“I informed Professor Sellers that I was terminating her relationship with Georgetown Law effective immediately,” Treanor wrote. “During our conversation, she told me that she had intended to resign. As a result of my decision, Professor Sellers is no longer affiliated with Georgetown Law.”

Batson has been placed on administrative leave and “will have no further involvement with the course in which the incident arose,” Treanor added.

“We are taking significant steps to ensure that all students in this class are fairly graded without the input of Professor Sellers or Professor Batson,” he wrote. “This is by no means the end of our work to address the many structural issues of racism reflected in this painful incident, including explicit and implicit bias, bystander responsibility, and the need for more comprehensive anti-bias training.”

Batson, a mediator and former senior counsel at the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Enforcement, did not immediately respond to emails on Thursday.

Sellers shared a copy of her resignation letter with The New York Times, in which she said she was “deeply sorry for my hurtful and misdirected remarks.”

“I would never do anything to intentionally hurt my students or Georgetown Law and wish I could take back my words,” Sellers wrote. “Regardless of my intent, I have done irreparable harm and I am truly sorry for this.”

Sellers said she had taught at Georgetown for almost 20 years and had wanted all her students to excel.

“When this does not occur, it reflects shortcomings on my part, not just on the part of any single student,” she wrote. “It is my responsibility to do all I can to correct this. My comments were the inarticulate reflection of long soul searching. I must do better to understand and address these issues.”

Hassan Ahmad, a Georgetown law student who shared the video on Twitter, said the discussion between the adjunct professors took place last month. Although the students in the class had logged off, the video system continued to record, he said, and uploaded the video to a class website.

It began to circulate in group chats, he said, and a student reported it to the administration on Monday. On Wednesday, Ahmad shared the video online, where it has been viewed more than 750,000 times.

“I was upset that it had not gotten a response from the school at that point,” Ahmad said.

Georgetown University Law Center said on Thursday that it had fired an adjunct professor who made “abhorrent” remarks about Black students on a video call and had placed another adjunct who was on the call with her on administrative leave.

Georgetown University Law Center said on Thursday that it had fired an adjunct professor who made “abhorrent” remarks about Black students on a video call and had placed another adjunct who was on the call with her on administrative leave. The two adjunct professors, Sandra A. Sellers and David C. Batson, seemed to be unaware they were being recorded, according to a roughly 40-second clip of their conversation that generated widespread outrage after it was shared online. In the clip, Sellers, a mediator with experience in intellectual property and high-tech disputes, discussed the evaluation of Black students with Batson after their virtual class had ended, according to the university. “You know what? I hate to say this,” Sellers said on the video. “I end up having this angst every semester that a lot of my lower ones are Blacks — happens almost every semester. And it’s like, ‘Oh, come on.’ You know? You get some really good ones. But there are also usually some that are just plain at the bottom. It drives me crazy.” As she spoke, Batson murmured, “Mm-hmm,” but did not challenge her remarks. After the video prompted condemnation from students and alumni, the dean of the law school, William M. Treanor, said he had referred the matter to the university’s Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity & Affirmative Action, which had begun an investigation. He called the contents of the video, which the university learned about this week, “abhorrent” and said it “included reprehensible statements concerning the evaluation of Black students.” “It includes conduct that has no place in our educational community,” Treanor wrote to the law school on Wednesday. “We must ensure that all students are treated fairly and evaluated on their merits.” On Thursday morning, the university’s Black Law Students Association posted a letter to the administration calling for Sellers to be terminated and urging the law school to audit the grades and student evaluations in her past classes. The video revealed not only Sellers’ “true beliefs about Black students,” the association wrote, “it is also illustrative of the conscious and unconscious bias systematically present in law school grading at Georgetown Law and in law school classrooms nationwide.” In a second message to the law school on Thursday, Treanor said he had spoken to Sellers and Batson, “giving each the opportunity to provide any additional context.” “I informed Professor Sellers that I was terminating her relationship with Georgetown Law effective immediately,” Treanor wrote. “During our conversation, she told me that she had intended to resign. As a result of my decision, Professor Sellers is no longer affiliated with Georgetown Law.” Batson has been placed on administrative leave and “will have no further involvement with the course in which the incident arose,” Treanor added. “We are taking significant steps to ensure that all students in this class are fairly graded without the input of Professor Sellers or Professor Batson,” he wrote. “This is by no means the end of our work to address the many structural issues of racism reflected in this painful incident, including explicit and implicit bias, bystander responsibility, and the need for more comprehensive anti-bias training.” Batson, a mediator and former senior counsel at the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Enforcement, did not immediately respond to emails on Thursday. Sellers shared a copy of her resignation letter with The New York Times, in which she said she was “deeply sorry for my hurtful and misdirected remarks.” “I would never do anything to intentionally hurt my students or Georgetown Law and wish I could take back my words,” Sellers wrote. “Regardless of my intent, I have done irreparable harm and I am truly sorry for this.” Sellers said she had taught at Georgetown for almost 20 years and had wanted all her students to excel. “When this does not occur, it reflects shortcomings on my part, not just on the part of any single student,” she wrote. “It is my responsibility to do all I can to correct this. My comments were the inarticulate reflection of long soul searching. I must do better to understand and address these issues.” Hassan Ahmad, a Georgetown law student who shared the video on Twitter, said the discussion between the adjunct professors took place last month. Although the students in the class had logged off, the video system continued to record, he said, and uploaded the video to a class website. It began to circulate in group chats, he said, and a student reported it to the administration on Monday. On Wednesday, Ahmad shared the video online, where it has been viewed more than 750,000 times. “I was upset that it had not gotten a response from the school at that point,” Ahmad said.

Georgetown law fires professor for ‘abhorrent’ remarks about Black students

As many as 8,000 people in and around the city of Georgetown, South Carolina, have been urged to evacuate ahead severe flooding expected this week from two rain-gorged rivers in what may be the final destructive chapter of Hurricane Florence.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-vows-100-per-cent-support-for-storm-battered-carolinas-166828">Also Read: Trump vows '100 per cent' support for storm-battered Carolinas</a>

Floodwaters of 5 to 10 feet (1.5 to 3 m) are expected to inundate Georgetown and surrounding communities by late this week as the Pee Dee and Waccamaw rivers overrun their banks along the low-lying tidal flats where they converge at Winyah Bay, which flows into the Atlantic.

Emergency management officials began sending pre-recorded telephone messages to residents in harm's way over the weekend, and will probably start going door-to-door in the next few days, Georgetown County spokeswoman Jackie Broach-Akers said.

The potential flood zone encompasses some 3,500 homes in Georgetown, which lies at the confluence of the two rivers at the top of the bay, and the coastal resort community of Pawleys Island, she told Reuters.

She said the estimated 6,000 to 8,000 people who live in that area are being "strongly urged", to leave on their own, although no mandatory evacuation has been ordered.

The county plans to open emergency shelters at 7 a.m. on Monday, and hotels outside the flood zone in nearby Myrtle Beach are offering discounts for evacuees. Public schools will be closed until further notice, Broach-Akers said.

State transportation crews were working to erect temporary dams on either side of US&nbsp;Highway 17, the main coastal route through the area, and National Guard engineers were installing a floating bridge at Georgetown in case the highway is washed out at the river.

"The water is still rising there," said Bob Oravec, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center. "It's a matter of time before it subsides," he said early on Monday.

About 100 miles (160 km) up the coast, a commercial section of downtown Wilmington, North Carolina, by the Cape Fear River was under a foot of water, with flooding expected to rise by a further 2 feet with high tide on Sunday evening, city spokesman Dylan Lee said.

Flooding in Wilmington was expected to peak on Monday along the city's Water Street riverfront, where many businesses had stacked sandbags in advance, Lee said. But the city said its offices would reopen on Monday after having been closed for a week.

Nine days after Florence came ashore, the National Weather Service said flooding would likely persist in coastal parts of the Carolinas for days as the high-water crest of numerous rivers keeps moving downstream toward the ocean.

"This isn't over," said Oravec. "All that water is going to take a good while to recede," he said. "Damage can still be done. It'll be a slow drop."

The storm dumped 30 to 40 inches (75 to 100 cm) of rain on the Wilmington area alone after making landfall nearby on Sept. 14.

Floodwaters have begun to recede farther inland.

That left hundreds of dead fish stranded on a highway near Wallace, about 35 miles from the nearest beach, according to the Penderlea Fire Department, which posted video of firefighters hosing the fish off Interstate 40.

"Well, we can add 'washing fish off of the interstate' to the long list of interesting things firefighters get to experience!" the department said on Facebook.

Remnants of the once-mighty storm brought heavy rains across a swath of the country, prompting flood watches and warnings from Texas to Virginia and Maryland, at least through Monday, the weather service said.

About 5,000 people across North Carolina have been rescued by boat or helicopter since the storm made landfall, twice as many as in Hurricane Matthew two years ago, according to state officials. Thousands of people remained in shelters.

As many as 8,000 people in and around the city of Georgetown, South Carolina, have been urged to evacuate ahead severe flooding expected this week from two rain-gorged rivers in what may be the final destructive chapter of Hurricane Florence.

As many as 8,000 people in and around the city of Georgetown, South Carolina, have been urged to evacuate ahead severe flooding expected this week from two rain-gorged rivers in what may be the final destructive chapter of Hurricane Florence. Also Read: Trump vows '100 per cent' support for storm-battered Carolinas Floodwaters of 5 to 10 feet (1.5 to 3 m) are expected to inundate Georgetown and surrounding communities by late this week as the Pee Dee and Waccamaw rivers overrun their banks along the low-lying tidal flats where they converge at Winyah Bay, which flows into the Atlantic. Emergency management officials began sending pre-recorded telephone messages to residents in harm's way over the weekend, and will probably start going door-to-door in the next few days, Georgetown County spokeswoman Jackie Broach-Akers said. The potential flood zone encompasses some 3,500 homes in Georgetown, which lies at the confluence of the two rivers at the top of the bay, and the coastal resort community of Pawleys Island, she told Reuters. She said the estimated 6,000 to 8,000 people who live in that area are being "strongly urged", to leave on their own, although no mandatory evacuation has been ordered. The county plans to open emergency shelters at 7 a.m. on Monday, and hotels outside the flood zone in nearby Myrtle Beach are offering discounts for evacuees. Public schools will be closed until further notice, Broach-Akers said. State transportation crews were working to erect temporary dams on either side of US Highway 17, the main coastal route through the area, and National Guard engineers were installing a floating bridge at Georgetown in case the highway is washed out at the river. "The water is still rising there," said Bob Oravec, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center. "It's a matter of time before it subsides," he said early on Monday. About 100 miles (160 km) up the coast, a commercial section of downtown Wilmington, North Carolina, by the Cape Fear River was under a foot of water, with flooding expected to rise by a further 2 feet with high tide on Sunday evening, city spokesman Dylan Lee said. Flooding in Wilmington was expected to peak on Monday along the city's Water Street riverfront, where many businesses had stacked sandbags in advance, Lee said. But the city said its offices would reopen on Monday after having been closed for a week. Nine days after Florence came ashore, the National Weather Service said flooding would likely persist in coastal parts of the Carolinas for days as the high-water crest of numerous rivers keeps moving downstream toward the ocean. "This isn't over," said Oravec. "All that water is going to take a good while to recede," he said. "Damage can still be done. It'll be a slow drop." The storm dumped 30 to 40 inches (75 to 100 cm) of rain on the Wilmington area alone after making landfall nearby on Sept. 14. Floodwaters have begun to recede farther inland. That left hundreds of dead fish stranded on a highway near Wallace, about 35 miles from the nearest beach, according to the Penderlea Fire Department, which posted video of firefighters hosing the fish off Interstate 40. "Well, we can add 'washing fish off of the interstate' to the long list of interesting things firefighters get to experience!" the department said on Facebook. Remnants of the once-mighty storm brought heavy rains across a swath of the country, prompting flood watches and warnings from Texas to Virginia and Maryland, at least through Monday, the weather service said. About 5,000 people across North Carolina have been rescued by boat or helicopter since the storm made landfall, twice as many as in Hurricane Matthew two years ago, according to state officials. Thousands of people remained in shelters.

Georgetown, South Carolina residents urged to evacuate ahead of severe flooding

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