(Actually from a while ago, but my dumb butt finished and posted this before I checked the date--- I think it was this year..)

Background: A student at Cornell University had said that she needed a trigger warning because the book they read in class included a graphic rape scene, but Cornell University said no because of free speech.

No. Just no.

First of all, there's no relationship between trigger warnings and free speech. Actually,  I think that trigger warnings help to protect free speech!

You can say whatever you want, but it's common courtesy to warn people if you have graphically triggering content.

Like, yes, you're not always going to get a warning, but if you require students to read a graphic rape scene, you need to warn them because that could trigger PTSD. Same with a graphic war scene, or what have you. If you know that the content can cause adverse reactions, please give a warning. It's not necessarily required, but it would be greatly appreciated, and it's not hard to just warn students about graphic content.