The document discusses differing viewpoints among students at the University of Denver regarding feeling comfortable expressing opinions in classroom discussions, particularly on controversial topics. Some students feel the classroom is a safe space for dialogue, while others feel uncomfortable due to fear of backlash from peers disagreeing with their views. Political views on campus also vary widely and students express support for various candidates through signs, graffiti, and other means.

1. With
over
5,000
undergraduate
students,
the
University
of
Denver
educates
people
from
all
over
the
world.
Consequently,
DU
is
home
to
many
people
with
many
different
views.

2. The
graffi)
wall
on
Driscoll
green
shows
conflic)ng
viewpoints
co-­‐
exis)ng
on
campus.

3. Does
DU
facilitate
a
classroom
environment
that
is
a
safe
space
to
create
dialogue
and
express
opinion?
Or
do
students
feel
uncomfortable
expressing
their
views
in
fear
of
being
chas)sed
by
other
students?

4. “I
do
feel
comfortable
talking
about
controversial
topics
in
the
classroom,”
says
junior
Danny
Brown.
“I
have,
though,
faced
much
backlash
when
it
comes
to
this.
Once
during
freshman
year,
I
was
in
a
communica)on
class
and
the
classroom
was
stadium
style,
so
there
were
a
lot
of
people
behind
me.
I
tried
to
make
a
point,
but
due
to
people
disagreeing
with
me,
as
well
as
not
being
able
to
make
myself
clear,
about
five
people
started
yelling
at
me
for
being
ignorant.”

5. “Generally
I
do
not
feel
comfortable
speaking
in
class,”
says
junior
Maddy
Donlan.
“I
don’t
like
raising
my
hand
in
general,
unless
I
am
100
percent
posi)ve
on
what
I
am
saying.
For
me
it's
a
confidence
thing.”

6. “I
feel
comfortable
speaking
in
class,”
says
Maddy
Nesbit.
“I
took
a
public
speaking
class.
I’ve
always
liked
[speaking
out.]
I
like
hearing
other
people’s
opinions,
and
there
are
very
few
subjects
that
I
would
get
upset
over.
I
think
it
is
up
to
the
individual."

7. Anonymous
expression:
students
have
painted
John
Kasich
over
the
image
of
Carly
Fiorina
aZer
another
group
of
students
had
vandalized
her
portrait,
giving
her
devil
horns
and
a
tail.

8. A
DU
student
shows
her
support
for
Bernie
Sanders
by
hanging
a
campaign
sign
in
the
window
of
her
house
for
all
of
campus
to
see.

9. The
college
republicans
of
DU
stamp
their
seal
on
a
brick
wall,
establishing
their
presence
on
campus.

10. Donlan
(right)
thinks
that
it
is
up
to
the
teachers
to
facilitate
discussion,
while
Nesbit
(leZ)
argues
that
it
is
up
to
the
student
to
speak
out
in
class.

11. Poli)cs
is
not
the
only
issue
DU
students
disagree
on.
Speaking
out
in
class
on
any
topic
that
is
controversial
can
be
a
grueling
experience
for
students
who
do
not
feel
as
though
the
environment
is
a
safe
space
to
generate
discussion.