美国国家公共电台 NPR University Of Chicago Tells Freshmen It Does Not Support 'Trigger Warnings'

University Of Chicago Tells Freshmen¹ It Does Not Support 'Trigger Warnings'

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The University of Chicago is welcoming new students to campus by warning they might hear things that might make them uncomfortable. A letter sent by the school this week tells incoming freshmen the university does not support so-called trigger warnings as part of its commitment to freedom of expression. NPR's David Schaper reports some students are taken aback by the approach while others say that's exactly what they want at the university.

DAVID SCHAPER, BYLINE³: Dear class of 2020 student, the welcome letter from the University of Chicago's dean of students to incoming freshmen begins. It goes on to explain the university's commitment to freedom of expression and inquiry⁴. Students are encouraged to speak, write, listen, challenge and learn without fear of censorship. And that means the school, quote, "does not support so-called trigger warnings" to alert students to upcoming discussions or speakers that they might find offensive.

The University of Chicago won't cancel controversial speakers, and it, quote, "does not condone⁵ the creation of intellectual safe spaces where individuals can retreat from ideas and perspectives at odds⁶ with their own."

GEOFFREY STONE: This is really exciting. You're coming to an amazing institution.

SCHAPER: That's law professor Geoffrey Stone explaining the intent of the letter to incoming freshmen which was based on a report from a faculty⁷ committee he chaired on freedom of expression and academic freedom. He says the University of Chicago has a long history of standing⁸ for those principles.

STONE: And we've been deeply committed to the notion that we're here to learn from one another and to learn from the world and to study things and to figure out the answers. And the best way to do that is to hear all sides of everything.

CHARLES LIPSON: I think it's an excellent thing.

SCHAPER: Political science professor Charles Lipson says too many campuses are shutting down discussions or speeches that some might find uncomfortable or offensive. Across town, for example, DePaul University canceled an appearance last spring by conservative blogger Milo Yiannopoulos because of protests. And Lipson notes several other schools have had similar controversies⁹.

LIPSON: I think universities have allowed students and faculty who want to suppress speech free rein¹⁰. They've rolled over and they have not stood up for what ought to be a basic value of universities, which is to encourage free speech.

SCHAPER: On campus, the challenge to hear and share different points of view is exactly what 16-year-old prospective¹¹ student Ellie Carter of Ashland, Ore., is looking for.

ELLIE CARTER: I can't understand why a college campus would be the kind of place where people would police uncomfortable topics or topics that should be - like, this is the place that they should be having that discussion at.

SCHAPER: Ellie's mom, Kathy Carter, agrees.

KATHY CARTER: I want her exposed to more things, not to less things.

SCHAPER: But the Carters also say trigger warnings can be important on some topics for some students. And that's a concern of graduate student Kelsey Stilton as well.

KELSEY STILTON: It's a little in-your-face for the very first day of school.

SCHAPER: Stilton wishes the administration chose better terminology¹² to reflect its commitment to free speech.

STILTON: Because the word trigger warning and the word safe space also implies something for people that have been in abusive or traumatic situations.

SCHAPER: University of Chicago officials say professors still can provide trigger warnings and safe spaces if they choose, and they promise a lot more discussion when students arrive on campus and classes begin at the end of next month. David Schaper, NPR News, Chicago.

1 freshmen   

n.（中学或大学的）一年级学生( freshman的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We are freshmen and they are sophomores. 我们是一年级学生，他们是二年级学生。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• University freshmen get lots of razzing, but they like the initiation. 大一新生受各种嘲弄，但是他们对这种入门经验甘之如饴。 来自辞典例句

2 browser   

n.浏览者

参考例句：

• View edits in a web browser.在浏览器中看编辑的效果。
• I think my browser has a list of shareware links.我想在浏览器中会有一系列的共享软件链接。

3 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

4 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

5 condone   

v.宽恕；原谅

参考例句：

• I cannot condone the use of violence.我不能宽恕使用暴力的行为。
• I will not condone a course of action that will lead us to war.我绝不允许任何导致战争的行为。

6 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

7 faculty   

n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员

参考例句：

• He has a great faculty for learning foreign languages.他有学习外语的天赋。
• He has the faculty of saying the right thing at the right time.他有在恰当的时候说恰当的话的才智。

8 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

9 controversies   

争论

参考例句：

• We offer no comment on these controversies here. 对于这些争议，我们在这里不作任何评论。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史
• The controversies surrounding population growth are unlikely to subside soon. 围绕着人口增长问题的争论看来不会很快平息。 来自辞典例句

10 rein   

n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治

参考例句：

• The horse answered to the slightest pull on the rein.只要缰绳轻轻一拉,马就作出反应。
• He never drew rein for a moment till he reached the river.他一刻不停地一直跑到河边。

11 prospective   

adj.预期的，未来的，前瞻性的

参考例句：

• The story should act as a warning to other prospective buyers.这篇报道应该对其他潜在的购买者起到警示作用。
• They have all these great activities for prospective freshmen.这会举办各种各样的活动来招待未来的新人。

12 terminology   

n.术语；专有名词

参考例句：

• He particularly criticized the terminology in the document.他特别批评了文件中使用的术语。
• The article uses rather specialized musical terminology.这篇文章用了相当专业的音乐术语。