https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 25 Apr 2026 17:15:19 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-college-be-a-safe-space#post-2118610 Mon, 23 Mar 2015 15:04:54 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2118610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: "And frankly, when you’re taking a women’s studies class, you know the subject of rape is bound to come up. Probably multiple times. I personally wouldn’t expect to be given a warning before every assignment that might be a trigger for someone. "</p> <p>Exactly what I was thinking! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-college-be-a-safe-space#post-2118600 Mon, 23 Mar 2015 14:58:08 +0000 plantains 2118600@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: cosign 100%. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-college-be-a-safe-space#post-2118542 Mon, 23 Mar 2015 14:15:27 +0000 avivoca 2118542@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: I agree. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-college-be-a-safe-space#post-2118534 Mon, 23 Mar 2015 14:06:35 +0000 mamimami 2118534@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nooo, I don't agree with this. I am a HS teacher and I don't give "trigger warnings." If students have serious trauma issues, they can check the syllabus and Google the titles of the texts before they read them. I don't think that's on the professor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-college-be-a-safe-space#post-2118325 Mon, 23 Mar 2015 11:57:18 +0000 ShootingStar 2118325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, I don't think college should be a "safe space" in the way they're referring to it. I honestly don't even understand the first example about the debate. If it's a topic that is triggering for you, then don't attend the debate. Why is that difficult? You can't expect the world to always cater to your unique "triggers."</p> <p>I think if professors are going to highlight topics that are disturbing (rape, torture, school shootings, etc) then they should mention it in their class description and syllabus, but not refrain from discussing the subjects. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-college-be-a-safe-space#post-2118238 Mon, 23 Mar 2015 10:48:30 +0000 Maysprout 2118238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>College is professional training so I think a couple other posters have it right on when they talk about the need for counseling to help students address personal triggers. </p> <p>It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to teach professors how to approach students they see struggling with topics to go to counseling, it still has a stigma to suggest to someone that they need counseling though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-college-be-a-safe-space#post-2118227 Mon, 23 Mar 2015 10:41:56 +0000 yoursilverlining 2118227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband is a professor and we were out to dinner with a bunch of friends (all other professors) a few weeks ago, and this topic actually came up because a complaint had been lodged about one of the other professors saying that she didn’t give enough “trigger warnings” before discussing texts for that class. She gives some, but apparently, not enough. Sigh.</p> <p>College should be a safe place (from this thread title, I thought the discussion would be more about the rampant problems with campus sexual assaults, or overt racism happening at colleges across the country), but college is also suppose to be a place where you are tested and where you grow. If you never leave your comfort zone, you never grow. And frankly, when you’re taking a women’s studies class, you know the subject of rape is bound to come up. Probably multiple times. I personally wouldn’t expect to be given a warning before every assignment that might be a trigger for someone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-college-be-a-safe-space#post-2118215 Mon, 23 Mar 2015 10:36:50 +0000 MrsSCB 2118215@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think college should be preparation for the real world, and as such, it's important that people aren't shielded from difficult topics. Take the Brown example in the article -- if you're attending an event debating aspects of sexual assault, it seems pretty self-explanatory that some of the things discussed may be offensive to you. But that's life. I mean just read the comments on any news article. What are these students supposed to do after graduating, live in a bubble? I'm just kind of confused by that situation, because as far as I can tell anyone attending that event was made aware of the topic. It's not like they said, "Come to this discussion about kittens!" and then sprung the topic of sexual assault on them with no warning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-college-be-a-safe-space#post-2118214 Mon, 23 Mar 2015 10:36:11 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2118214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think saying "next class we will be discussing x" should be fine. I don't think professors should avoid tough topics. They need to be discussed, especially if you're majoring in something like psychology. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-college-be-a-safe-space#post-2118190 Mon, 23 Mar 2015 10:22:17 +0000 jedeve 2118190@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not quite the same, but I grew up near VT and lost a former classmate in the shooting. </p> <p>The next day, I had a professor who was trying to make a point about how tough it was to go to school in a war zone. She asked if anyone knew anyone who was shot. I think she was really surprised when I said yes, I knew someone who had died. I spent the rest of the class shaking and didn't go to school for the rest of the week. It was a stupid and insensitive way to make a point. </p> <p>My point is some common sense and decency goes a long way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-college-be-a-safe-space#post-2118189 Mon, 23 Mar 2015 10:20:05 +0000 blackbird 2118189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Isn't this why colleges have counselors on-campus for emergencies? I mean, if you're taking a sociology class, there's a disclaimer in the syllabus that certain topics can and will be discussed. A heads up is good, but at the same time...yes, difficult topics will be discussed and should be. But then there should also be support in place for those students. </p> <p>Kind of moot for me. Math and chemistry isn't really trauma-inducing. But, I did have some rough mornings when my brother passed away and the professors were always understanding when I couldn't make class and instead saw a grief counselor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-college-be-a-safe-space#post-2118188 Mon, 23 Mar 2015 10:18:56 +0000 loveisstrange 2118188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hate the term "trigger warning". It's become one of those terrible, overused, "PC" terms that people apply to everything that isn't unicorns and sunshine. Life is triggering.</p> <p>I think giving a small warning of "hey, on monday we're discussing....." is fine. I do think that all students should be held accountable for knowing the material. In the end, you go to college to do your coursework. You should be responsible for knowing what the teacher needs you to know. I also don't think that issues, especially ones that NEED discussion like rape/sexual assault/etc, should be tip-toed around. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-college-be-a-safe-space#post-2118162 Mon, 23 Mar 2015 09:55:34 +0000 wonderstruck 2118162@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think wanting trigger warnings for traumatic topics is totally reasonable. Earlier this month I had a professor assign a short story we had to read and write a paper discussing how the author used details to evoke certain emotions and ideas. It was a graphic brutal story about a young girl being raped and tortured. Yeah, a warning would have been nice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-college-be-a-safe-space#post-2118138 Mon, 23 Mar 2015 09:41:11 +0000 FliegepilzHut 2118138@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hadn't heard anything about this. I think it would probably be reasonable for an English or Women's Studies professor to give forewarning, as in, "during class on Wednesday we will be discussing rape (or incest) as it pertains to...", but otherwise, I'm not so sure. Guess I should read the article! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/should-college-be-a-safe-space#post-2118124 Mon, 23 Mar 2015 09:36:23 +0000 mrbee 2118124@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Been reading lately about how more college students are pushing for trigger warnings when potentially traumatic topics are discussed.</p> <p>This article ("In College and Hiding From Scary Ideas") talked about the flip side of that effort:</p> <p>&lt;&lt; In an interview, Mr. Shapiro said, “If the point of a safe space is therapy for people who feel victimized by traumatization, that sounds like a great mission.” But a safe-space mentality has begun infiltrating classrooms, he said, making both professors and students loath to say anything that might hurt someone’s feelings. “I don’t see how you can have a therapeutic space that’s also an intellectual space,” he said. &gt;&gt;</p> <p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/22/opinion/sunday/judith-shulevitz-hiding-from-scary-ideas.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/22/opinion/sunday/judith-shulevitz-hiding-from-scary-ideas.html</a></p> <p>I thought that was really interesting. It got me thinking a lot about how this feels like an outgrowth of modern parenting... we protect our kids from so much these days, that it makes sense that they aren't prepared for potentially traumatic and triggering ideas in college.</p> <p>What do you think: should college be a safe space? Should teachers put trigger warnings on potentially traumatic topics? </p>