Safe space trigger warning twizzle2/1/2024 Students with a history of trauma (like sexual assault, emotional or physical abuse, war, etc.) or someone with PTSD may feel particularly sensitive or hyper-aware of words or images that could reintroduce that trauma into their day-to-day lives. ![]() “Being uncomfortable by topics or values or things that upset you is very different than having a symptomatic mental health response,” says Newman. ![]() Some administrators subscribe to the belief that trigger warnings prevent individuals from grappling with difficult or uncomfortable materials, but Elana Newman, Ph.D., research director for the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma and professor at the University of Tulsa, argues that triggering material isn’t simply something that might offend students. In fact, trigger warnings and safe spaces may serve a functional purpose in today’s college campuses, and the pushback may stem from a fundamental misunderstanding of the purpose of 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.” 1Ĭounselors, however, may have a different viewpoint from other academic leaders regarding trigger warnings, as counselors directly serve students and help them to address their mental health needs. “Our commitment to academic freedom means that we do not support so-called ‘trigger warnings,'” Ellison wrote. Ellison argued that students should not expect trigger warnings in their classes at the college. ![]() The crux of the debate stemmed from a recent letter addressed to an incoming freshman class at the University of Chicago, written by the dean of students, John Ellison. While some leaders are in favor of providing a space where students can be themselves without criticism or judgment, and approve of providing trigger warnings for the potentially traumatizing subject matter, others argue that creating safe spaces can stifle classroom debate and prevent students from grappling with difficult concepts. Over the past few years, the concept of trigger warnings in course materials has caused serious debates in higher academia.
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