It’s amazing how easily some people go along with such a dumb policy.

Alex Morey reported at the FIRE blog.

Responding to Faculty Resolution, American University Student Government Unanimously Endorses Trigger Warnings

Students at American University (AU) are at odds with faculty over whether trigger warnings help or hurt free speech on campus.

On Sunday, the AU undergraduate senate unanimously voted in favor of a bill formally endorsing trigger warnings, according to the campus newspaper, The Eagle.

The bill was a response to a resolution passed by AU’s faculty last month, which questioned the propriety of trigger warnings and, separately, vowed to strengthen free speech protections on campus. FIRE praised AU’s faculty for the move in a press release last month, citing it as a positive development in our effort to encourage colleges and universities nationwide to adopt the University of Chicago statement on free speech.

Inside Higher Ed reported on the faculty’s stance with regard to trigger warnings late last month:

The [faculty] resolution was not prompted by an incident at AU, but concerns — especially among librarians — that they might be asked in the future to provide such warnings.

‘As laws and individual sensitivities may seek to restrict, label, warn or exclude specific content, the academy must stand firm as a place that is open to diverse ideas and free expression. These are standards and principles that American University will not compromise,’ the resolution says. ‘Faculty may advise students before exposing them to controversial readings and other materials that are part of their curricula.