Author and American Enterprise Institute Resident Scholar Christina Hoff Sommers gave a speech entitled “What’s Right (and Badly Wrong) With Feminism?” at Georgetown University Thursday night.
It didn’t seem like a controversial topic, since universities are supposed to be the place for the free exchange and debate of ideas.
But “trigger warning” signs were placed at the entrance to the room in which the author of “Who Stole Feminism” was to speak, warning survivors of sexual assault that her speech could traumatize them or “trigger” upset feelings, and offered a safe place instead.
Image Credit: Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute
The Daily Caller reported that a Georgetown student, identified as Sarah, emailed the Georgetown SAPE, presumably the Sexual Assault Peer Advisors:
“Tonight, Republicans are hosting an extremist anti-feminist speaker that dismisses and denies survivors of sexual assault and the real harm of rape culture.”
“Current College Republicans leadership has not been willing to do simple things like add a trigger/ content warning, or clarify why they felt it was appropriate to bring this speaker into our community.”
“If you’re available and up for it, I’d strongly encourage you to attend. Students that are educated on the real facts of sexual assault and able to provide information on resources should be in the room.”
The “trigger warnings” weren’t limited to issues of sexual assault:
Spoke at Georgetown last night. Lots of trigger warnings and safe spaces. pic.twitter.com/04z7A7WVxn
— Christina H. Sommers (@CHSommers) April 17, 2015
A few protesters attended the event and held up signs while Sommers was speaking.
The Clare Booth Luce Policy Institute sponsored Sommers’ speech. Lecture director Laurel Conrad said:
“It seems that feminists can’t decide if women are warriors or if they are delicate butterflies who must have the remarks of established academics like Dr. Sommers prejudged.”
“The protesters are using trigger warnings as a way to stigmatize the presentation and anything that differs from their point of view.”
Sommers is slated to speak Monday night at Oberlin College, where similar trigger warnings are expected to be issued.