LTC Lunch: Trigger Warnings: Protection for Vulnerable Students or a Threat to Academic Freedom? (Feb. 9)

College students are increasingly insisting upon “trigger warnings” in advance of the presentation of potentially upsetting or traumatic material. Yet, there are concerns that trigger warnings may narrow intellectual exploration, reinforce the fear of words, and diminish potential learning experiences. The presenters will discuss how they approach  (and struggle with) such topics as eating disorders, suicide, rape, domestic violence, and the Holocaust in the classroom as well as the pros and cons of providing trigger warnings. Presenters: Ken Abrams, Associate Professor of Psychology, Pierre Hecker, Associate Professor of English, Julie Neiworth, Professor of Psychology, and Thabiti Willis, Assistant Professor of History