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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='margin-left:3.0pt;margin-top:3.0pt;margin-right:3.0pt;margin-bottom:.75pt'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>I had a vet (Iraq and Afghanistan) in my modernism class this past semester. He was quite impressed at Woolf’s ability to capture in Septimus Warren Smith the experience of postwar trauma. I’ve frequently taught classes on cultural response to 9/11, and as my university is ¼ mile from the Trade Center site I assume that at least some of my students are going to have fairly direct connections to the events of 9.11.01. Beginning the semester with an acknowledgment that it is possible course material will trigger difficult memories and inviting any student with concerns to discuss them right away seems a reasonable precaution to take. I would not change my syllabus, however, as it seems to me that the possibilities for “triggers” exist everywhere: online, in tv shows, movies, conversations with acquaintances, billboards, etc. It may be that the classroom is a far safer environment within which to encounter such triggers but that such safety requires aware teachers. And, of course, it is not only students who may be dealing with such issues.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> <a href="mailto:vwoolf-bounces+mhussey=verizon.net@lists.service.ohio-state.edu">vwoolf-bounces+mhussey=verizon.net@lists.service.ohio-state.edu</a> [<a href="mailto:vwoolf-bounces+mhussey=verizon.net@lists.service.ohio-state.edu">mailto:vwoolf-bounces+mhussey=verizon.net@lists.service.ohio-state.edu</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Diana Swanson<br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, May 19, 2014 10:32 AM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:vwoolf@lists.service.ohio-state.edu">vwoolf@lists.service.ohio-state.edu</a><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Vwoolf] Trigger warnings<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'>I agree with Vara and Lorena. I have had similar experiences with students but such literature can be an occasion for learning and enlightenment regarding personal, cultural, and historical phenomena. How the teacher handles the situation can make all the difference.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'>Diana <o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'>Diana L. Swanson, Ph.D.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'>Associate Professor of Women's Studies & English<br>Faculty Associate of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Studies<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'>Faculty Associate of Institute for the Study of the Environment, Sustainability, and Energy <o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'>Northern Illinois University<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'>DeKalb, IL 60115<br>815-753-6611<br></span><a href="mailto:dswanson@niu.edu"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"'>dswanson@niu.edu</span></a><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'><br><br>>>> "Neverow, Vara S." <</span><a href="mailto:neverowv1@southernct.edu"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"'>neverowv1@southernct.edu</span></a><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'>> 5/19/2014 9:23 AM >>><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'>Thank you, Lorena, for weighing in. I think it is reasonable to alert one's students when difficult topics will be under scrutiny in a course, even if the topics are merely unsettling, not outright traumatic. Doing so is not a form of coddling delicate minds that somehow should be immune to disturbing material. Instead, it is an appropriate pedagogical strategy that informs students about the texts and their content. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'>I think of it a "Mind the Gap" type of warning-take care, be aware, be cautious. In my experience, such guidance generally makes the class discussion more productive.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'>All best,<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'>Vara<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'>Vara Neverow<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'>Professor, English and Women's Studies <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'>Southern Connecticut State University<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'>501 Crescent Street<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'>New Haven, CT 06515<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'>Phone: 203-392-6717<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'>Fax: 203-392-6731<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'>email: </span><a href="mailto:neverowv1@southernct.edu"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"'>neverowv1@southernct.edu</span></a><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='color:black'>From: </span></b><span style='color:black'>Lorena Russell <</span><a href="mailto:lrussell@unca.edu">lrussell@unca.edu</a><span style='color:black'>><br><b>Date: </b>Monday, May 19, 2014 10:03 AM<br><b>To: </b>VWOOLF listserv <</span><a href="mailto:vwoolf@lists.service.ohio-state.edu">vwoolf@lists.service.ohio-state.edu</a><span style='color:black'>><br><b>Subject: </b>[Vwoolf] Trigger warnings<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Hi Jim et al.,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>I actually had a student triggered in my class last semester while teaching Mrs. Dalloway. He was an Afghanistan war veteran with PTSD and became distressed during a discussion of "Shell Shock" and WW I. He became agitated had to leave the class abruptly and I made the mistake of asking him to return and stay. It was only later in conversation I came to understand the depth of his distress and the context of his actions. I will of course continue to teach the text, but will (as I have done in the past with literature that contains potentially disturbing sexual violence) make a point of including a reminder for students of the potential for triggering events on my syllabus, and work to find ways of minimizing trauma and maximizing engagement. With a recent study noting 1 in 4 female college students experiences sexual violence and an increasing number of veterans, I think the issue of triggers in the classroom needs to be taken seriously here in the US. I don't think it calls for a drastic change in curriculum or pedagogy, though.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Best,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Lorena<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>=======================================<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Lorena Russell, Ph.D.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Director of UNC Asheville's QEP, the Inquiry ARC<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Associate Professor, Dept. Literature & Language<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>CPO #2130, Karpen Hall<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>University of North Carolina<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>One University Heights<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Asheville, NC 28804<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>828-251-6594 | </span><a href="mailto:lrussell@unca.edu">lrussell@unca.edu</a><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>========================================<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></body></html>