When University of Chicago dean of students’ letter to incoming freshman stated that the college “does not support so-called ‘trigger warnings’,” he prompted a new round of debate and discussion on an already polarized subject in higher education. In academia, a trigger warning is a verbal or written disclaimer of content or subject matter, which might cause some students to become distressed or take offense. Those who oppose political correctness and these warnings on college campuses say the approach not only infringes on the first amendment but is unrealistic as “safe spaces” and “trigger warnings” are not present in the “real world.”
With this ongoing debate in mind, LNP Opinion Department is holding a Diversity and Free Speech on Campus public forum at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20. E-town senior Katelyn Gebbia, Director of Diversity Monica Smith and Equity and Title IX Director Armenta Hinton will serve on the panel along with student, faculty and administrative representatives from Millersville University, Franklin & Marshall College, HACC, Lancaster Bible College, Lancaster Theological Seminary and Stevens College of Technology.
Co-sponsored by LNP Media Group and Millersville University, the free public event will be held at The Ware Center, 42 N. Prince St., Lancaster.
Promotional information from LNP notes that panelists will explore if free speech is being sacrificed to concerns about trigger warnings, microaggressions and safe spaces. They also will discuss if students have legitimate concerns about language in this age of diversity and if political correctness is being overly sensitive or merely polite. Using hashtag #PConCampus, additional discussion questions and observations may be tweeted during and prior to the event.
Gebbia who said she believes political correctness is important, is excited to have been invited to participate on the panel. “I’ve always been a pretty big proponent of diversity and free speech, as well as the impact of words,” she said. Being active with several student organizations and sensitive to tolerance on campus she likes “the chance to talk about things that are important to me on such a large scale.” This is her first time sitting on a panel; she said she hopes it will not be her last.
Smith, however, has taken part in scores of panels on controversial topics such as social justice and accessibility. The College’s director of diversity said that when people talk about political correctness, they’re, in fact, talking about diversity. “One of the things that I hope to challenge at the panel,” Smith said, “is the notion of political correctness.” For her, PC stands for professionally competent. People should examine what it respectful and be personally competent, as well. It’s important for students to attend the forum, Smith said, because education often takes place outside the physical classroom. This event will allow students to hear differing opinions and contribute to the conversation in a meaningful way.
The subject of this panel has been a hot topic for quite a while but is now more polarized, said Hinton. The College’s Equity and Title IX director said people often think of free speech as the ability to say whatever they want without consequence, but that is not possible in a society where there are reactions to such speech. “[It is important to] maintain a level of civility when we use our free speech,” Hinton said, pointing out how America has changed over the years. There didn’t used to be trigger warnings and safe spaces, she said, and, not too long ago, black women did not have the right to vote.
“I’m a firm believer that when we know better, we do better.”
Gebbia said she wants this event to show students and administrations that this topic is a national concern important to more than just a small group of students. “I hope people … put away their own reservations and engage so it doesn’t become a lecture instead of a panel,” she said.
Smith shares this view. “I know this is going to be a facilitated discussion, but my hope is that we can walk to the edge and really talk about things.”
The doors open at 6 p.m., and seating is limited.