Reply to American University student government demands 'trigger warnings' be added to every class syllabus

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I am a college professor and this would be really tough to adhere to.

I have a few classes that are almost entirely student-directed projects (for which I direct them through their work/methodology/concept/research) - if one of them wants to focus on abortion as opposed to something more vanilla, then they can damn well do that. So what does the trigger warning read: "There might be some things addressed here that are upsetting to some of you?" That's life. That's college. That's what you signed up for. I'm willing to mediate any inappropriate provocations or conduct, but this is just silly.[/quote]There is no way I would sit in your class or anybody else's and be called the N-word.  I wouldn't tolerate it.  It's not up for discussion.  It's not what I signed up for.  It's not what I pay for. There is no mediation nor am I leaving the room.

And as far as your opinion that "they can damn well do that", I don't think so, not to my face for the gratification of someone's definition of free speech.  I don’t need a safe space, and I'm not putting up with nonsense either.

[/quote]

Where did you get that from this person's post?[/quote]I'm giving an example based on the professor's comment 'that's life, that's college, that's what you signed up for.'  There will always be those who will test the new found freedoms of free speech as indicated by UChicago.  And that's fine.  It is one thing to have intelligent heated political discussion.  It's another thing to exercise vulgarity under the guise of free speech discussion.

Your reasonable question is indicative how people view experiences through different lenses and what they would deem reasonable for others but unreasonable for themselves.  I appreciate your question.[/quote]

No. You didn't read the whole post, which clearly made the same point that you then bashed the professor for not making. No one is excusing vulgarity under the guise of free speech. No one is insulting or threatening you. - The Professor[/quote]Respectfully, not only did I read your post, it is apparent you didn't understand my train of thought.  I would never suggest or assume you did not read mine.  However, I have a paper due and that is where my focus will be.  Trading unintelligent barbs (present PP excluded) is not how I roll.

Have at it.  I don't have the time and I KNOW how to pick my battles.  This definitely isn't one of them.  I made my argument.
[/quote]

Hmm, it seems we're at an impasse. I read your post...several times actually. When I said that college is a place you come to grow and learn and sometimes talk about things that are hard to talk about (I am paraphrasing), you said it is not a place that you come to be called names (again, I am paraphrasing). Those are false equivalencies, and totally unrelated. As for you quoting my "you can damn well do that" as being on board with anyone's free speech being violated, you clearly just did not understand the context; it was referring to students having the freedom to pick their own research topics and develop their own lines of inquiry through study regardless of what the topics are (within reason). [b]I think you might have a tough time in my class[/b], not so much due to sensitivity, but because you are not reading what I am putting out there and not open to me trying to explain it to you. Good luck on your paper![/quote]NP. I'm going to weigh in here, professor.  I think you had an opportunity to open up a real discussion with that young poster but instead you questioned his/her intelligence by stating they would be incapable of being successful in your class.  Unfortunately, I'll be that door is slammed shut now.  Nobody, not even you apparently, wants their position or reasoning challenged.

I can appreciate your title and position, but I think your comment was unnecessary and insulting.  If that is your idea of mediating, well, I would try a different approach.  Encouraging more dialogue would have been the approach I would've taken, not questioning that young person's intelligence.[/quote]

No, I think that the professor was pointing out, rather politely, that in order to do well in his criticial thinking class that you need to be able read not only the words that are written, but the intent/meaning of what is being said.. rather than a knee-jerk reaction based upon preconceived opinions of the topic.  The professor was also implying that if you are unwilling to accept the fact that students have different perspectives (which he supports if done in a respectful manner) that the poster would also have a hard time in his class.  I am sure the professor would accept the student in their class, but may have some reservations based upon initial feedback of the persons ability to be successful.

I did not read anything insulting in the reply - nor shutting the person down.

College is to learn and grow.[/quote]

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