The Daily Show adjudicates campus 'safe spaces,' trigger warnings in Outrage Court

The Daily Show debates safe spaces, trigger warnings

(Image credit: The Daily Show)

published 14 October 2016

It used to be that college was mostly fun and games (and classes), "but these days colleges are more sensitive, more informed, they have more diverse voices, and they encourage these voices with safe spaces," Trevor Noah said on Wednesday's Daily Show, "and now, some professors are offering 'trigger warnings' for topics that might upset students." Is that going too far? he asked. "What's more important, free speech or the right of our classmates not to be offended?" This is a hot topic of discussion on campus, and outside academia as well; The Daily Show adjudicated the controversy in "Outrage Court."

Presided over by "Judge" Roy Wood Jr., the court pits Desi Lydic, representing Team Safe Spaces, against free-speech defender Jordan Klepper. The language is at times mildly NSFW, and Wood's final verdict is silly, but the clip is a pretty good introduction and summation of both sides of the debate. Watch below. Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.