Earlier this week, University of Chicago welcomed their incoming students by stating the university would not include trigger warnings nor safe spaces within the institution. “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,” John Ellison, dean of students, wrote in the letter.
But, I would argue that following events of recent years of a “Rape List,” as it is known on campus, University of Chicago should probably address these issues before concerning themselves with political correctness. U of C has a history of mistreating its own students’ claims of sexual assault. According to the Chicago Reader, a student was asked what she thought would happen upon sleeping in a man’s bed when she reported the assault to her counselor in 2011.
In the 2014-2015 school year, a list called “The Hyde Park List” appeared on the social media site Tumblr, named after the neighborhood where the university is located. While the site was taken down quickly, the damage was already done. The list named students who have sexually assaulted/harassed their peers. The list named 6 men followed be a color, defining the severity of danger of these men. The list was released by concerned students and citizens of the university since the university does not protect their students who are victims of sexual assault.
And what did the University of Chicago have to say about this?
Before telling your students that their emotions and trauma will not be considered at your university, consider addressing those students who are causing them to need the trigger warnings and safe spaces.