by Mitch Kokai
Senior Political Analyst, John Locke Foundation
Elizabeth Harrington of the Washington Free Beacon details new “safe space” guidelines at a major public university.
The University of Arizona is encouraging college students to cry “ouch!” when they hear something offensive, make artwork about race relations, have story time, play four corners, and take a “time out” if they feel uncomfortable.
A new guide for faculty on “Diversity and Inclusion in the Classroom” offers tips for “inclusiveness” and how to establish a “safe space” in the classroom. The guidelines are voluntary for faculty and were first reported by the College Fix.
The guidelines offer “Strategies for Engaging Students,” which include the “One Diva, One Mic” rule and allowing 20-year-olds to yell “ouch” and “oops” in class.
“Creating a safe space for students for engaging in dialogue about challenging topics is vital in promoting positive intergroup interactions,” wrote Jesu?s Trevin?o, the author of the guide and vice provost for “inclusive excellence” at the university.
Ground rules for “personal and group affirmation” include “One Diva, One Mic,” which stipulates that college students should not interrupt each other.
The guide also suggests the “Oops/ouch” rule.
“If a student feels hurt or offended by another student’s comment, the hurt student can say ‘ouch,'” the university said. “In acknowledgment, the student who made the hurtful comment says ‘oops.'”
“Ground rules help students feel comfortable being honest,” the university said. “Students should be affirmed for being open, honest, and vulnerable about their perspectives and experiences.”
The guidebook suggests games for students like “Four Corners,” where students are split into each corner of the room based on how much they talk in class.