Safe space
A safe space is a place that a person or organization has declared to be free from certain perceived dangers, such as "bias". Others consider a safe space to be a place where people encourage each other to:
- embrace or celebrate individual differences
- be compassionate
- be inclusive
Arguments against the creation of safe spaces
Some say these spaces are the result of "uncritical thinking". They say that the concept of "safe spaces" is absurd because their creation automatically implies that everywhere else is unsafe.
Arguments for the creation of safe spaces
Recent protesters like SHOCC have demanded the creation of safe spaces.
Those who find value in safe space explain that, at a school like Columbia, students frequently feel attacked and targeted by a campus atmosphere that allows for affirmative action bakesales, racist comics, and homophobic and racist hate crimes. Producing and supporting safe space is about building community spaces where the values of compassion, and inclusion, and the celebration of individual differences are encouraged. The intention is not to create safe spaces to stand in contrast to that which is unsafe, but rather, to move towards a university community where those values are respected across campus.
