As the University of Chicago takes a stand against “safe spaces” on campus, the Sanford School of Public Policy is embracing the concept….
During the past year, the Sanford Committee on Diversity and Inclusion has been working on setting up a physical “safe space” of its own, said Kathryn Whetten, committee co-chair and a research professor of global health.
The room—called the “Sanford Safe Space”—will make its debut this year in Rubenstein 120, Whetten’s old office. She said the room will be an experiment in helping people heal, and that a social worker will also be present. The door will be open to all groups, she said, ranging from minorities to military members to conservatives.
“We want to have a place for people who feel marginalized and face constant attention for characteristics that are immutable—like their skin color or their religion, their immigration status or whether they’re from another country—to be able to heal,” she said….
In addition to the safe space, the Sanford School is looking to set up a discussion series throughout the year that will tackle issues of free speech, microaggressions and challenges like policing that are being grappled with worldwide….
Whetten also pushed back against the “either-or” formulation she said critics of safe spaces tend to follow. In her view, safe spaces actually promote rigorous discussion because they give marginalized individuals the confidence to feel comfortable speaking up.
“I don’t believe that safe spaces and rigorous engagement are contradictory to each other,” she said. “I think they are actually complementary. Having spaces can make them more willing to express themselves in debates because they’re able to be with similar people.”
