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The Why Factor: Safe Space

Student's Safe Space

03/06/2016 GMT

Safe Space

BBC World Service - The Why Factor, Safe Space

Mike Williams asks what exactly is a safe space?

Universities teach students by introducing new ideas and challenging assumptions.  So why are some students rebelling by insisting that certain themes should not be heard?

The ideal university experience is expected to train the minds of students by exposing them to new ideas and challenging their assumptions.  Why then, in the English speaking west at least, are some students rebelling against this principle by insisting there are some ideas which are so abhorrent they should not be heard?  To them a university should be a safe space.  In this edition of the Why Factor, Mike Williams tries to discover where the balance lies between freedom of speech and protection from offence and asks what exactly is a safe space?

Producer: Sandra Kanthal


Image: Students sharing space on campus (Credit: Rawpixel/ Shutterstock)

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