University of Chicago Staff Members Critique Dean's Controversial Letter

HYDE PARK, IL — Over 150 staff members at The University of Chicago signed a letter published on The Chicago Maroon Tuesday criticizing a controversial letter regarding "safe spaces" and "trigger warnings" recently written by the school's Dean of Students Jay Ellison.

As of Wednesday morning, 152 staff members signed the letter, which The Chicago Maroon is continuously updating as more faculty members sign. The statement serves as its own welcome letter to the class of 2020, to complement the one Ellison sent on Aug. 24.

"The right to speak up and to make demands is at the very heart of academic freedom and freedom of expression generally. We deplore any atmosphere of harassment and threat. For just that reason, we encourage the Class of 2020 to speak up loudly and fearlessly," the letter states.

This staff letter sharply conflicts with the one written by Ellison, who said safe spaces and trigger warnings will not be tolerated at the university because of their "commitment to academic freedom."

Ellison encourages members of the community to "write, speak, listen, challenge and learn without fear of censorship," such as trigger warnings and safe spaces.

Trigger warnings and safe spaces are often brought up during discussions of race, gay and transgender rights, sexual assault, and free speech.

A trigger warning is a statement at the start of a piece of writing, video, etc., alerting the reader or viewer to the fact that it contains potentially distressing material (often used to introduce a description of such content). A safe space is an area or a forum where marginalized persons can express their beliefs or feelings in a place where they feel comfortable and secure.

The staff members who wrote the letter stated, "to start a conversation by declaring that such requests are not worth making is an affront to the basic principles of liberal education and participatory democracy."

Both Ellison's letter and the letter written by staff members share a similar viewpoint: the importance of the free exchange of ideas.

Ellison argues that trigger warnings and safe spaces allow individuals to shelter themselves from ideas and perspectives that are at odds with their own. Ellison doesn't promote harassment, but states that rigorous, intellectual debate can challenge students, and at times make them uncomfortable.

The staff members assert that in order for a free exchange of ideas to occur, mutual respect is needed and contention has to be based on a commitment of learning. They believe trigger warnings and safe spaces allow heated, intellectual discussions to take place, but in an atmosphere that guarantees that everyone, especially the usually marginalized people, are comfortable.

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