Photo from University of Chicago
Critics of safe space policies have probably never participated in establishing safe spaces or attended the meetings held within. If they had, they would realize that a safe space is another place on campus for students to hold debates and create solutions to social issues, but it is different in that it emphasizes the acceptance of LGBT, non-binary, and others who don’t feel their voices are heard or valued in other social areas. The safe space allows these students to participate without the fear or intimidation that they feel in nearly every other space on campus. A safe space is a break from all of that. A place to breathe and be yourself.
When safe spaces are made fun of or deemed useless, the accusations prove that indeed, students seeking safety and inclusion face ridicule and oppression by their peers. By pointing out this need, the underlying problems in cam-pus culture are exposed. Why is there so much outrage over spaces that promote compassion and understanding when we allow establishments that haze new recruits and commit violent acts to exist as part of the status quo? In my four years at SLU, I have seen ZERO instances of violence or hate-speech commit-ted by members of the LGBT community but there have been NUMEROUS cases of such aggression perpetrated by members of “Greek Life” and other heterogeneous groups, the kind of aggression that everyone knows to occur yet school officials allow to continue. Why are safe spaces forced to operate discretely while certain SLU-sponsored organizations are free to openly dis-play acts of aggression and dangerous behavior? A small group of minorities does not have the influence or security that historically dominant groups are happy to advertise.
Safe Spaces do not threaten anyone! They are just easy tar-gets for the fist of mainstream society to squash because they lack safety nets of heterosexuality and widespread approval. When you disagree with their existence you agree with conformity. The safe space community is not ask-ing other students to adopt their lifestyle or agree to strict codes of assimilation in the ways that fraternities, sororities, and other exclusive organizations do. Safe space meetings draw low numbers while bid days amass large crowds of eager students. The reason why safe space boundaries are created is for protection, not rejection. If you are concerned about being left out, perhaps you should consider the spaces you are already privileged to occupy and why you have what others do not. I treat the Opinions Section of this student newspaper as a safe space where underprivileged viewpoints are allowed to flourish and discrimination is not. As an ally, editor, and writer, I expect to face the same sort of misguided backlash that other safe spaces endure. This opinions piece will almost certainly enrage the Panhellenic Council as similar questioning of their values has in the past. I also expect to hear comments about “angry feminists” and whiny have-nots. What else is new? I encourage anyone who disagrees to have a discussion with me or others who feel similarly so we can address your discomfort.