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University Safe Spaces

A Space to Examine the Safe Spaces in Higher Education

Antar Tichavakunda, Author

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About

I first heard the phrase "safe space" as a freshman at Brown University during the school's Third World Transition Program.  This program was an orientation for freshmen from historically underrepresented ethnic and racial groups. Throughout the three-day orientation, we discussed the "-isms" (e.g. racism, sexism, classism) and I heard variants of the following two phrases countless times: "Remember this is a safe space..." "In order to make this a safe space..." As a freshman, I understood a safe space to be a place where you could be respected and comfortable regardless of your positionality in terms of race, sexuality, gender, etc. However, a safe space seems to be far more complex than my preliminary perception. 

The term was originally used in schools and classrooms to demonstrate that a teacher is open and accepting of people who identify as LGBTQ. In this safe space, any anti-LGBTQ language, actions, or violence is not tolerated. The idea of a safe space however has evolved into a more encompassing idea. Now the term is used more often to relate to places where anyone, despite their identity, can be without being made to feel uncomfortable, unsafe, or unwelcome because of their race, sex, gender identity, sexuality, religion, body-type, or age.

In this scalar, I hope to explore the safe space construct and perhaps begin the theoretical development of safe spaces as they relate to the higher education context.
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