In a recent open letter in the campus newspaper, the Daily Nexus, opinions editors Emily Kocis and Toni Shindler-Ruberg said they would no longer publish pieces that would take away from the paper’s role as a “safe space.”

California College Newspaper Declares The Opinion Section “Space For Comfortable And Safe Dialogue,” To Protect Readers From Ideas That Challenge Them

A college campus used to be a place where people wanted to engage in the free flow of ideas and debate.

Not any more. Not at the University of California-Santa Barbara.

In a recent open letter in the campus newspaper, the Daily Nexus, opinions editors Emily Kocis and Toni Shindler-Ruberg said they would no longer publish pieces that would take away from the paper’s role as a “safe space.”

“The opinion section has historically been a grab bag of miscellaneous topics and eye-catching headlines. But beyond flashy titles and catchy hooks lies the potential for thought-provoking conversations. Indeed, this safe space for deep dialogue is the opinion section that we, as editors, hope to cultivate,” they wrote.

But, they added, “We must balance free speech regarding expressed opinions with wanting to keep the Nexus and UC Santa Barbara as a whole a safe space to enter two-way dialogues. In order to truly cultivate a space for comfortable and safe dialogue, it is imperative that we prioritize diversity not just in content but in who is writing said content.”

“As editors, our individual experiences limit our critical lens and, therefore, our published content. Consequently, diversifying the voices contributing to our section is imperative in widening the scope of our coverage.”

Although they added that “safe and diverse spaces are earned, not declared,” the editors then declare their page is a safe space, most likely for liberal-allowed opinions.

They admit that the paper’s “reporting styles, phrasing and overall atmosphere have alienated various UCSB communities and organizations. Part of the student body simply does not trust the Nexus to represent their views or opinions. We do not at all expect members of these communities to feel safe starting a dialogue with any of our sections,” they wrote.

“As long as the Nexus as a whole is not perceived as a safe space, our newsroom will not properly represent the diversity of our campus.”

They also admit that free speech can be a bumpy ride. But allowing that means discomfort, which no one – except perhaps conservatives – should feel.

“When articles are repeatedly given consideration despite their potential to directly or indirectly alienate communities in the name of free speech, we fail as a section and a publication as a whole. Pieces that directly infringe on the safety or sense of security of any individual or group do not have a place in our section,” they added.

“Moving forward, we recognize the responsibility that accompanies being editors for one of the most prominent campus and community publications and are actively making the effort to be more thoughtful in publishing pieces. While we still value being a platform for varying perspectives, we want to ensure that pieces differ in their views while keeping our values of upholding diversity and creating safe spaces for dialogue intact,” the editors conclude.

The piece ends with the following invitation: “We want to hear your opinions.”

No, it’s apparent you don’t.

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