UC Merced Cultural Center Guidelines
Section C. Guidelines for Trigger Warnings
We want this to be a space in which historically and continually marginalized student of color, which include their intersectional identities as womxn, income-insecure, LGBTQ+, non-binary, gender non-conforming, differently abled-bodied, international, immigrant, non-traditional students, etc. can feel safe expressing themselves, their lived experiences, knowledges, without being the target of oppression. We commit to remaining conscious of our own positionality in this space.
- Always honor the need for ‘trigger warnings’ in this safe space.
- Be aware of our own privileges and the power dynamics within the group, by continually assessing how much space we each take up with gestures and voices and pay attention to others who might take up less space but have something to contribute, too.
- Do not make assumptions about other people’s experiences; listen to them and give them the space to articulate their point of view if they would like to; do not assume that they owe us a justification of their person, do not dismiss or overshadow their experience
- Be sensitive towards discussion topics that might deal with traumatic themes. Mostly, understand that what is not traumatic to you, may trigger others. Always ask for consent.
- Invite questions rather than speak in an absolute manner
- Forster a culture in this space that uses accessible and inclusive language: do not assume pronouns or identities.
- Use “I” statements to avoid generalizations of an experience other than your own
- Refrain from body shaming, slut shaming, and discrimination against sex work.
- Refrain from outing people, for instance, who identify as LGBTQ+ spectrum, disabled, as well as survivors of gender-based violence, status, etc
- Treat all information discusses in the space as confidential. Do not discuss it outside this space without the person’s consent. Do not share other people’s narratives without their explicit permission
