Students huddled like penguins at the Oxford University student-club exhibition known as “Freshers’ Fair.” The event’s supervisors had strategically designed a narrow pathway for us to follow. You could not wander around to leisurely survey the organizations; instead, you had to proceed in an orderly line to catch even a glimpse of a club’s booth. The venue was so crowded that I could hardly see the tables and posters, let alone write down my email to register for activities. (My unfortunate constitution means I stand just above five feet, so I did have a view of the rugby players’ shoulders in front of me.)
Apparently, the event was stressful — not simply miserable — for some students. About halfway through the path, the Oxford Student Union organization had sectioned off a “Wellbeing Area” for students to silo temporarily. A poster said the following: “Need a rest? Come and take a break from the crowds!” There were “5 minute mini massages” where masseuses kneaded the young adults. Other tables offered arts-and-crafts activities advertised as “calming crafts.”
If you feel overwhelmed spending an hour navigating a cramped building to survey recreational clubs, then you probably aren’t prepared to succeed in college, let alone one of the most prestigious universities in the world. This pathetic catering to sensitivity at Oxford resembles the “play time” scheduled at kindergarten designed to elicit some emotional, psychological relief.
A hyper-awareness to emotional instability thwarts the potential for academic excellence; education requires us to be uncomfortable, for it is unpleasant to interrogate your beliefs and recognize all the ways in which you are wrong. I have a prediction: Those who took a respite during the club fair will be among those who cry “I feel offended and unsafe” when confronted with substantive counterarguments in class.