It is not the purpose or role of a university to be a “safe space” as regards ideas, speech, contention, debate, and for that matter the giving of offense.

It is precisely the purpose or role of a university to be an unsafe space, an arena and a battlefield, as regards ideas, speech, contention, debate, and for that matter the giving of offense.

As G.M.W. Wemyss rightly says, students taking up places at university who don’t understand this – these precious, special snowflakes – are the academic equivalent of bed-blockers.

Or the Athenian mob, rioting over the fact that being asked to think has corrupted the Athenian youth. (“Hemlock all round, barkeep, and make mine a double!”)

Socrates (and Mill, and for that matter Milton), wouldst thou wert living at this hour; The puerile have need of thee.
_____
* With apologies to John Henry Newman