A University of Utah student just wanted a quiet place to retreat to during the stress of looming graduation, so they took matters into their hands.
Senior, Nemo Miller, along with Tony Miller and David Meyer, constructed a free-standing “cry closet,” that was installed in the campus library to create the perfect not-so-happy place to let out all the end-of-semester stress.
“The idea came from my own stress and anxiety about graduating and wanting a place where I could get away from everything and just breathe for a minute," Miller tells Her Campus.
The closet, which allows students 10 minute sessions to sit inside, is lined with black fabric and packed with stuffed animals for extra comfort for anyone in need of a break.
Miller notes that the name of the piece is more tongue-in-cheek humor: “The intention of the piece not literally to cry in a closet. I wanted to provide an actual space for students to take a break.”
Upon instillation and the release of photos, the project went viral and was met with praise and criticism.
Point taken, @dexdawg. We will cease and desist all attempts at humor across campus.
— University of Utah (@UUtah) April 24, 2018
The University of Utah acknowledged the approved school project as an attempt at humor, and that it was a “Work of art meant to provoke feeling, thought and conversation, which the artist has apparently done.”
Regardless of the backlash, the students’ opinions are those that matter and Miller said that has been generally positive: “The response from the student at the U have been mostly supportive.”
However, Miller is just like us and notes "I haven’t had much time to interact with users since I am also in the middle of my own finals.”
So, we’ll let you get back to your own finals, and if you’re lucky enough to have your own cry closet, we highly recommend taking a 10 minute break inside.
