I’m Northwestern’s president. Here’s why safe spaces for students are important.

The Washington Post ^ | 15 Jan, 2015 | Morton Schapiro

[MtnClimber]

College presidents have always received a lot of mail. But these days we get more than ever. Much of it relates to student unrest, and most of the messages are unpleasant.

Our usual practice is to thank the sender for writing and leave it at that. The combination of receiving more than 100 emails and letters a day and recognizing that the purpose of many writers is to rebuke, rather than discuss, leaves us little choice about how to respond.

But that certainly doesn’t mean we don’t think long and hard about the issues being raised. Some writers ask why our campus is so focused on how “black lives matter.” Others express a mixture of curiosity and rage about microaggressions and trigger warnings. And finally, what about those oft-criticized “safe spaces”? On this last topic, here are two stories. The first was told to me privately by another institution’s president, and the second takes place at my institution, Northwestern University.

A group of black students were having lunch together in a campus dining hall. There were a couple of empty seats, and two white students asked if they could join them. One of the black students asked why, in light of empty tables nearby. The reply was that these students wanted to stretch themselves by engaging in the kind of uncomfortable learning the college encourages. The black students politely said no. Is this really so scandalous?

[IChing]

...and people wonder why white advocacy on the Alt-Right is experiencing massive growth and spread. It’s about time.

https://occamsrazormag.wordpress.com/2016/01/20/what-is-the-altright-a-brief-explanation/

[reed13k]

I’m a Northwestern alum “president” Schapiro - here’s why it’s important for students to GROW UP! and deal with life.

[Jim Noble]

I thought they wanted equality

Why did you think that?