The University of Chicago Political Union (UCPU) hosted a student debate this Monday regarding Dean John “Jay” Ellison’s letter condemning safe spaces and trigger warnings.

“The thing about trigger warnings and safe spaces is that they each sort of address a different need in supporting marginalized groups in an academic setting,” second-year panelist Patrick Lou said.

Third-year panelist Mike Dewar argued that the University should not get involved in deciding whether safe spaces and trigger warnings are necessary. He claims that it would “invite disaster” and believes that ethical statements addressing trigger warnings and safe spaces do not concern University administration.

A member of the audience asked Lou, “Why do you believe the University should have the power to create these rules that are either pervasive or that people can take advantage of?” Lou responded that the University’s support of safe spaces would improve the wellbeing of marginalized groups.

Third-year Matthew Foldi, president of College Republicans and an outspoken supporter of the letter, weighed in after the debate.

“It was interesting just to see the diversity of thought within UChicago with this issue or really any given issue,” Foldi said. “We come from a community filled with people who spend their days thinking and it’s great getting to kind of see the fruits of people’s thoughts. It was a discussion where people who have thought about this issue said what was on their minds in a way that was entirely productive.”

“We had some very nice discussion. It did not get overheated,” fourth-year UCPU member David Abraham said. “Everyone who wanted to speak got to speak.”

“The Political Union is all about is getting people together who will have this kind of excited discussion where basically they know they don’t agree with each other and they are trying to explain why they don’t agree with each other, and it’s for the benefit of everybody else,” Abraham said. “It’s important to the campus. Good way to start the year.”