Harmful or Hurtful: Trigger Warnings and Safe Spaces

Some have chosen to attend a community college to take time on deciding on which subject or field to major in, to try to alleviate the high cost of university tuition, or because of outside obligations. Regardless of what the reason was, a question that a majority of students have in common is: “Which school do I want to transfer to afterwards?”

Some universities have “trigger warnings” and “safe spaces” spreading throughout their campuses. My argument is, how can anyone learn academically, grow as a person, have their ideas challenged, or maybe foster new ideas within in this type of environment? The University of Chicago took a stand against these ideas and made sure that new students will get their own and individually different “true college experience”.

For those who do not know what “trigger warnings” or “safe spaces” are, a trigger warning is used to warn a person on a sensitive subject or topic, that they may be uncomfortable with, or find offensive. In addition, a safe space stops people from controversial topics or ideas if they do not want to engage. In my opinion, this idea seem ridiculous to some degree, but when the fact that when a young adult goes to college, they will be preparing themselves for life, which in reality, there is not going to be a safe space to retreat to when they find something offensive or a topic makes them uncomfortable.

If one does not want to talk or be a part of a discussion about a sensitive subject, then that student has every right to leave the area. The student does not need a safe space to achieve that level of comfortability; they just need to leave. What we see in the University of Chicago’s class of 2020 acceptance letter, makes me feels like spark of hope for the future.

The Dean of Students, John Ellison, told new students what to expect within the acceptance letter when the semester starts, “our commitment to academic freedom means that we do not support so-called ‘trigger warnings,’ we do not cancel invited speakers because their topics might prove controversial, and we do not condone the creation of intellectual ‘safe spaces’ where individuals can retreat from ideas and perspectives at odds with their own...Fostering the free exchange of ideas reinforces a related university priority building a campus that welcomes people of all backgrounds. Diversity of opinion and background is a fundamental strength in our community. The members of our community must have the freedom to espouse a wide range of ideas.”

In a time where we are more divided than ever on certain subjects and ideas, I feel to reach a common ground with someone who has opposing ideas, a conversation must be had. However, in the heightened politically correct atmosphere, the common ground may never be reached if all colleges and universities use safe spaces and trigger warnings.