Reply to University of Chicago on Trigger Warnings

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I also am politically liberal and black, and I believe no one should be provided a "safe space" with crayons and coloring book if you're over 7.  Since we probably agree on many social issues, how would you address the issue of a student in a [b]required sociology class denigrating and castigating African-Americans as being lazy, uneducated, and unproductive justifying it by altering historical fact and stating a First amendment right[/b]?  When I was told about this spring last semester, I thought that the student was probably echoing what he has heard politically and probably at home.

I would have given this student the mental finger as I quietly and respectfully listened because I've heard it before, been there and heard that.  Though I am significantly older and have a much different race related life experience, posters would probably state that I would want an safe space and should stay and debate.  Why would any student be forced to continue that kind of debate when years of history have proven otherwise?  Why is it those students' job is to debate and most likely unsuccessfully change the thinking of a student who probably has racist familial conditioning?

Professor, I tell you this story as told to me by the parent of one of the two African-American students in the course who left the class because the other student was allowed to give his ideas without rebuttal and the class was instructed to listen, a learning experience.  The two AA students returned to the next class and respectfully declined debate because they were unsure how a debate would affect their grade.

[b]Where would you draw the line, OP? [/b] I would love to hear your thoughts on this type of freedom of speech (or as the U of Chicago said "inquiry and expression") and the rights of the student speaker versus the rights of the classroom student listeners to not debate and "retreat" to a different environment of intellectual quiet or as some here would label as "safe space."

Your thoughts, OP, are definitely welcomed.[/quote]

OP here. You raise important points and a common concern among parents of color. My thoughts:

(1) The responsibility of the professor is to ensure that students have an accurate understanding of the topic studied--and if a student makes arguments in class that are factually incorrect, unsubstantiated, and motivated by bias (even if unintended), then the professor needs to correct the statements and teach how analysis from the discipline (sociology) is performed. So, if the class is about the sociology of race, the job of the professor is to try to get students to think about and analyze race the way sociologists would do so--and spouting off wrong historical data to make a point is NOT what a competent sociologist would do. Class is not the Jerry Springer show, despite students' desire to be "entertained." I am surprised that the professor allowed such historical inaccuracies to go on uncorrected--if other students in class are not correcting the inaccuracies, then the professor needs to step up. There are a lot of ways in which professors can make such tirades educational--have the student state the peer-reviewed sources, statistical surveys, sociological studies, etc., for such views.

(2) Classroom discussions need to be civil and students need to show mutual respect for each other. Making racist, sexist, homophobic, etc., comments ruin the atmosphere of collegial, intellectual, and rigorous discussion. It effectively shuts down alternative views (i.e., AfAm students now feel uncomfortable speaking up in class) and stops the inquiry.

3) Is is not the job of students of color to serve as "tokens" in the classroom. However, students, regardless of color, race, sex, etc., need to contribute to the discussion. In other words, I don't expect black students to speak on behalf black Americans, however, neither are they given a pass to remain silent if they have information that would change the flow of the conversation. It is everyone's job to speak up.

(4) Freedom of speech does not equal a passing grade. It is not an excuse to spout unfounded, inaccurate information.

(5) I wouldn't give up on students who come from racist backgrounds. Confession--my family growing up was, in fact, pretty racist and VERY sexist. College was a hugely liberating and eye-opening experience for me, personally.  My professors, classes, and college friends taught me see the world in very different ways that I had been exposed to at home, and they gave me the vocabulary and critical thinking skills necessary to see my upbringing with a clearer lens.

(6) Some unsolicited advice--I don't know the background of the AfAm students in the course, but students need to go to office hours and talk to the professor (i.e., engage in dialogue!). The vast majority of us are, in fact, pretty reasonable and are in this because we want to teach (we are certainly not in it for the money). [b]Unfortunately, by not participating in subsequent classes, those two students have shot themselves in the foot. They need to understand they they may very well be viewed as disengaged and/or unprepared for class discussion.  They can't let their disgust get in the way of their getting a good grade. The professor is not a mind-reader, s/he doesn't know why the students aren't talking in in class. For all s/he knows, they agreed with the other student![/b] [/quote]
You raise very valid points, however, I disagree with some of point No. 6 and bolded opinion (an opinion of which you are definitely entitled) which is what makes debate a learning experience on both sides.  While you opine these students have shot themselves in the foot, you nor I are privy to their mindset.  We don't know whether they were concerned about receiving a failing grade nor do we know the mindset of the professor.  African-Americans, students or adults, know there are times when you just go along to get along in a situation that might compromise your well being (I am not speaking about physical safety here).  This is cultural.  While that thought process could happen with anyone regardless of ethnicity, we'll stick with these two black students for discussion purposes.

I would also suspect that sometimes one might think entering a debate where you will have no impact is fruitless.  You mentioned that these students need to understand they may be viewed as disengaged or unprepared for discussion.  There are tons of threads in this very forum that assume African-American students are solely admitted to colleges because of affirmative action and have inferior grades so it would not be that far a reach that some in that class may have thought they were unprepared or disengaged solely from that mindset.   Interesting that you have that viewpoint while that thought though it never came up in a five-person discussion I had with people who did not know these students.  Also, (and I have to smile), I highly doubt the professor thought those black students agreed with the denigration of their heritage as lazy and uneducated (still smiling!) though there may have been other students in the class who concurred with the very verbal student.  Well, I will give the benefit of the doubt to the professor.

Additionally, while engaging with the professor is obviously the best scenario, we don't know the mindset of the professor.  I am well-educated and articulate, but I can appreciate any hesitancy on the students part to discuss this event if there was an inkling of concern or suspicion of the professor's thoughts on the matter.  It's a slippery slope dealing with someone who can control your future, and we just don't know the relationship with the professor and these two students who I know came from an excellent high school with grades and test scores to match.

I would conclude by saying we just don't know what lenses these two students were viewing the situation from in that class, but I will reach out to the parents to continue this discussion as I am very curious what grade was received for the class.  While you and I base some of our thoughts, assumptions, and opinions from our experiences, I most certainly welcomed your candor (especially in No. 6) and your willingness to take the time to answer from your perspective.  This is what debate and communication is all about.  We can agree, and we can agree to disagree.

I will not be posting anymore but thank you again for your thoughts.

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