UK universities issue ‘trigger warnings’ to warn students of potentially ‘upsetting’ material

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A growing number of UK universities have introduced “trigger warnings” to give students advance notice of any potentially “upsetting” material in lectures, in a move that echoes a fast-growing trend in colleges in the US. Meanwhile archeology students at University College London were reportedly told last month they could leave the lecture without being penalised if they find it too “distressing”, with lecturer Gabriel Moshenka claiming it was a necessary measure as the material might induce psychological trauma. In May it was revealed undergraduate law students at Oxford University were being issued with trigger warnings before lectures containing material deemed too “distressing”, a move that prompted a wave of criticism. At the time, law lecturer Laura Hoyano insisted those who wish to study law “have to deal with things that are difficult", telling Mail Online: “We can’t remove sexual offences from the criminal law syllabus – obviously.” In response the university issued a statement saying the university aimed to encourage independent and critical thinking but that it was “appropriate” to advise students of potentially distressing subject matter and that individual lecturers were free to either give or not give trigger warnings as and when they see fit.