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 to members of the class of 2020, who will arrive next month.
…..The Chicago letter echoed policies that were already in place there and at a number of other universities calling for “the freedom to espouse and explore a wide range of ideas.” But its stark wording, coming from one of the nation’s leading universities, and in a routine correspondence that usually contains nothing more contentious than a dining hall schedule, felt to people on all sides like a statement.
—University of Chicago Strikes Back Against Campus Political Correctness
Good for the University of Chicago! There may be hope for the world after all.
I saw this, too. I hope that more stand up for intellectually challenging learning environments.
Me too! It’s good that so many people are seeing it. Hopefully it will be good PR for the University of Chicago. They deserve it.
I’ve been reading about the movement to make everything safe and promote intellectual pablum, and it is disturbing. Glad to read this!
Agreed! Especially when the students graduate with so much debt. It’s crazy.
hallelujah!!!
now if more will take the lead.
just to be independent of rich alumni is very courageous of Chicago.
On the other hand, some colleges are losing money from alums because the administration is caving to the aggressive students.
I think the world has gone crazy trying to be politically correct.
People have to tiptoe around and watch their every word.
But I don’t like the idea that people can use free speech and controversial topics as a method of delivering hate and intolerance.
There’s enough evil in the world and no one should have to sit in a class and listen to a speech that hurts who they are.
Maybe I’m mis-understanding this.
(I’m very tired right now), but this sounds like women, different races and religions, people who don’t identify themselves as straight, could be all the targets of intellectual learning if there are no safe spaces.
I agree with the University of Chicago. The whole point of a university is to expose students to a wide range of ideas and opinions, especially ones at odds with their existing opinions. How else can you develop a more mature understanding of the world? The fashion for protecting students from any contrary opinion that might offend their delicate sensibilities is absurd. They shouldn’t be at university, they should be hiding under a toadstool somewhere.