FLASHPOINTS Vignette - Trigger Warnings

A professor (Latino, male) remembers, belatedly, that he is supposed to provide a “trigger warning” for a film he is about to show that is about sexual violence/rape. He advises students that if any of them will find the topic difficult, they can leave class without penalty to their attendance points. One woman hesitates and then gathers her belongings and leaves. Two other women discuss the woman’s departure and question what happened to her. Discussion: What are trigger warnings (sometimes called Content Warnings)? Are they a good idea? Are they unnecessary at the college level? How and when should they be provided? How should faculty respond to students who are, in fact, unable to participate in some aspect of the curriculum?