The College at The University of Chicago recently found itself at the center of a debate, after a letter that the school sent out to their freshman class. In the welcome letter from the Dean of Students, he states that the university does not support the use of trigger warnings, or the implementation of intellectual safe spaces. This decision had many people around the country angry at the university, but it also had some wondering, what are trigger warnings, and why do they matter?
Trigger warnings have become a major topic of conversation after this controversial decision. A trigger warning is a disclaimer that is given to a class or before a lecture if it is believed that the content of the discussion can be harmful or distressing to certain people. These warnings are usually meant to help people who have mental disorders, including PTSD, in order to protect them.
The University of Chicago feels that their faculty and speakers should not use these warnings because it inhibits people's freedom of speech as well as. The university also says that students should "speak, write, listen, challenge and learn without the fear of censorship." The university that the letter's intent was based on a report from a faculty committee based on freedom of speech and academic freedom.
This has sparked quite the debate among people: whether you should warn people about something that they may not react to well, or should we protect people right to speak freely. We are in a transitional period in the U.S. where we need to decide whether it is better to protect people from possibly damaging words, or to protect people's right to freedom of speech. What the right way of doing things is, will only come in time.
