University of Reading responds to criticism of trigger warnings: “It’s not ‘awake'”

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University of Reading bosses have hit back at criticism from a former Downing Street councilor who called for a decision to warn students on sensitive issues of the “looming shadow of awakening”.

Chris McGovern, a former director who now heads the Campaign for True Education, made the comments in the Daily Mail.

The university has been criticized for introducing “trigger warnings” for its students, which means they are notified if the material they are working on covers difficult or complex topics.

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The warnings are reminiscent of those now released before movies that may contain violence or sex.

The university insists that they are not designed to distract students from the material.

The University’s Center for Support and Quality Development has developed “Guidance and Policy Papers,” which provide staff with guidelines on how they might alert students to potentially upsetting or sensitive material.

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In a statement posted on the university’s website, Vice-Chancellor Robert Van Der Noort retaliated by saying: “Nothing I can say is likely to reduce the outrage displayed in various sections of the comments of the media.

“But I will not see colleagues and students unfairly criticized for doing their jobs with professionalism and compassion.

“Nothing prevents discussing issues such as rape, genocide, torture or horrific atrocities; but advance warning not only leads to better teaching and better study, but is simply a common courtesy.

“Content warnings are everywhere at the start of television programs, in movie commercials and in news articles.

“A university course is much more personal and intensive than a television program. It requires active engagement, discussions with peers, and the development of in-depth understanding.

“So why wouldn’t we want to prepare our students for complicated subjects in sensitive ways, rather than let them be taken by surprise?” “

Dr Chloe Houston, a lecturer and associate professor of English at the university, said the warnings weren’t even particularly new.

She said: “I would call them ‘content warnings’ rather than ‘trigger warnings’, which in my opinion isn’t a particularly useful term.

“We often talked about texts that we come across and which may contain things like sexual violence.

“It’s not uncommon to have these conversations.

“University students often find themselves in situations where their views are contested and deal with difficult topics. “

A spokesperson for the University of Reading explained: We help our academic staff continue to cover important but controversial issues, while considering the impact of discussions on others.

“Our guidance on trigger warnings encourages academic staff not to avoid difficult or complex material, but to treat it with sensitivity and with students aware of the material they are working on.

“Our students rightly expect that by studying at a leading university at the undergraduate level and above, they will have access to all the texts and materials needed to develop their knowledge.

Content warnings are used regularly in other parts of life, such as before TV shows or online articles. They are part of a series of measures that make it possible to discuss and disseminate potentially difficult, controversial or taboo subjects, while taking into account the impact of these discussions on the well-being of people.

A tweet from the college also said, “It’s not ‘awake.’ Talking to people ahead of time about potentially disturbing content is a basic courtesy that allows us to study and discuss difficult topics. with sensitivity.

What do you think of the warnings? Leave a comment below

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