We need safe spaces in colleges and universities. This is normative, and here’s why. First, let’s define a safe space so there is no confusion. A safe space is “a place where anyone can relax and fully self-express, without fear of being made uncomfortable, unwelcome or challenged on account of biological sex, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, cultural background, age or physical or mental ability; a place where the rules guard each person’s self-respect, dignity and feelings and strongly encourage everyone to respect others,” (advocatesforyouth.org). People of color (POC) and other minorities need safe spaces because on a daily basis we are made to feel uncomfortable in our own bodies, for things that we cannot change.
An example of jargon against safe spaces is that there is no safe space in the “real world.” But actually there are safe spaces in the real world. Has anyone heard of LGBTQ community centers? They exist in major cities across the nation and their sole purpose is to provide a safe space for those who experience homophobia or transphobia, be it in their own home, school or everyday life. Studies show that LGBTQ youth, because of what they’re facing in their own home, have high suicide rates.
Imagine being kicked out of your home at 16 for being gay or transgender. This is a reality for many people, even in 2016. What would they do without having a safe space in the “real world?” Furthermore, college campuses are not the “real world.” Everything is intensified because of the compact nature of a college community. When there are only 2,000 people on campus, and something happens to one of us, that could have easily been you. Where would we go on campus if we were made to feel unsafe? Hell, we even pay for safe spaces. One of the reasons why college is so expensive is because you are paying for more than just the education; you are paying for an experience. In a place like Wooster, the college experience matters.
Another huge dispute against safe spaces, specifically for POC or more directly black people, is that by having a Black Students Association (BSA), black people are segregating themselves from society. Do people know what segregation actually means and its connotation? Segregation is an enforced separation or isolation of a group of people with a negative connotation with their history of discrimination. These groups could be based off of ethnicity, race, gender, and even religion. First of all, no college campus group is enforced. The College doesn’t demand that there be a group created for only black people, or only Christians. So, are religious groups on college campuses considered segregation? We don’t see Yik-Yak posts about how unfair it is that there are Christian or Hillel groups segregating themselves from all other religious groups, because that would be ridiculous. So why does it become a problem when black people or POC are involved?
In fact, what religious groups are doing and providing for their community is the very same thing that a BSA or the Queer Student Union is too. These groups provide a safe space for people to come together and be in fellowship with others who have the same beliefs and exist in the same culture. A place where they can relax and completely express themselves without fear of being made uncomfortable or unwelcomed. Every college ought to do whatever it can to make every student feel safe.
Kiera Parker-Emerson, a Contributing Writer for the Voice, can be reached at KParker-Emerson19@wooster.edu.