At this point in the year, many students are well into studying for their finals — and, in some cases, suffering emotional turmoil as a result. While therapy dogs and junk food binges are certainly comforting in their own way, it’s a universal truth that sometimes the only way to get through finals is to allow yourself to have a good ol’ cry.
Recently, a student at the University of Utah discovered a rather unusual new development in the library: a free-standing “Cry Closet,” filled with stuffed animals, to allow students to have a safe space to vent their emotions during finals.
so my school installed a cry closet in the library LMFAOOOOOOOOO what is higher education pic.twitter.com/6rGcJv9qjr
— jacks (@aJackieLarsen) April 24, 2018
People were so entertained by the idea that the student’s tweet garnered over 284,000 likes.
While the idea is obviously a delightful one, the closet isn’t actually a permanent fixture in the library — it’s a student art project.
a point of clarification: this was designed and built by a student and cost nothing to the student body or the school, so for everyone bitching about the use of school funds, pls rest easy
— jacks (@aJackieLarsen) April 24, 2018
An apparent new addition at the University of Utah’s library (it’s an art project done by a student) https://t.co/QmKIAvaowV
— Jake Hatch (Yawk/Judas) (@JacobCHatch) April 25, 2018
*crying with laughter* … *reading door sign* … Nemo Miller!?! We know that artist! https://t.co/CLmhcft8EA #UtahGrad18 #HumansOfTheU
— University of Utah (@UUtah) April 24, 2018
The artist, Nemo Miller, was extremely excited by the attention her “Cry Closet” art project received.
Yooooo!! I’m THE Cry Closet Creator ™️. I’m so stoked that the response has been so incredible!!
— Nemo Miller (@Nemosanartist) April 25, 2018
While the idea does seem a little absurd, Twitter users were genuinely supportive of the “Cry Closet” concept.
Random fact… this is the side view pic.twitter.com/i16aJv54Gg
— Dev (@DevThaExplora) April 25, 2018
This is actually a great idea since so many students already deal with stress and anxiety on a daily basis knowing that it’s heightened during exam and finals season. https://t.co/G5szto7OTN
— Kristine Slade (@CallMeSlade) April 25, 2018
Soon to be make out chamber pic.twitter.com/9sLFJ5R0Qx
— Mayibongwe Pixie (@mkncube) April 25, 2018
It’s all fun and games until somebody has a complete meltdown because the Cry Closet is already occupied. https://t.co/3AAUmjykpp
— Cocoa Khaleesi (@TheDeeNicole) April 25, 2018
Before finals: this shit is for soft people.
After seeing test scores: where is this closet again, asking for a friend. https://t.co/F0RZLauQM0
— #1 Party School in Utah (@BarstoolUtes) April 25, 2018
There needs to be 50 of these and they all need to be in the math building. https://t.co/29deMRAgUT
— sith happens (@fratti_natti) April 24, 2018
Mine is called “my office.” https://t.co/OUXQR89NTW
— Kevin Shafer ???? (@kshaferbyu) April 24, 2018
Of course, as someone pointed out, this installation has the potential to turn into several art projects …
There’s a second installation there: ‘the empathy wall’. Put your ear against it and listen to someone have a cry…
— Shane B Duggan (@ShaneBDuggan) April 25, 2018