Opinion: The danger of college campus ‘safe spaces’

To the editor: Safe spaces? I thought college campuses were safe spaces. (“Campuses are breaking apart into ‘safe spaces,’” Opinion, Jan. 5)

Aren’t they meant to be society’s centers enlightenment? How can there be an educational environment in a place that promotes separation? What sort of thinking is represented by Northwestern President Morton Shapiro’s assertion in the Washington Post that black students deserve a safe space, away from white undergraduates, where they can enjoy their lunches in peace?

Frank Furedi is absolutely correct to point out the divisiveness of such a policy. Perhaps it’s time that colleges and universities, rather than accommodating every subgroup on campus that can’t quite cope with realities that are contrary to their own, should simply grow up.

To continue with this self-segregation only adds to students’ insecurities and postpones any ultimate awakening to the fact that society is complex and challenging. Promoting separation complicates the situation unnecessarily.

Robert Ruchhoft, Cerritos

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To the editor: Furedi writes a compelling piece about the self-segregation of certain ethnic, racial and religious minorities on today’s college campuses.

He points out that “historically the university freed its members from their cultural baggage to create a community of intellectual individuals,” yet he is very remiss in failing to note that this was only a privilege for white college students in America for the bulk of our history.

I am 58 years old, and forced student segregation was an issue in my lifetime. Additionally, whites sequestered themselves in their neighborhoods, churches, businesses and recreational activities. How quickly we forget.

Bethia Sheean-Wallace, Fullerton

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