Event Subject Matter Considerations
The Office for Campus Life maintains a webpage of Student Events with Sensitive or Difficult Subject Matters. Visit the page for comprehensive information. Some information most relevant to free expression is included below.
Students inevitably will engage with topics that are sensitive, challenging, or emotional —both in and out of the classroom.
Events related to war, trauma, sexual assault, self-harm, and other forms of violence can be powerful experiences for students to plan and attend, and can contribute in important ways to our campus climate and student wellness.
Thinking about how to frame your event that deals with a challenging topic in advance and connecting to relevant resources during the planning process can help ensure that your event is successful in meeting its goals while also being supportive of the community.
This is a short guide to help student groups plan and implement events on topics that might be especially emotional for participants or audience members.
Framing the Event
What are your goals for the event?
Consider formulating some goals in writing for this event, even if you only share them with members of your group or planning committee. Start by completing these statements:
- “By putting on this event, we hope to accomplish…”
- “We hope that participants’ experience of our event is…”
- “The reason we are having this event is…”
- “The reason we are formatting the event in the way that it is currently conceptualized is…”
- “One concern we have as we plan this event is…”
Content Notes
If your event will include graphic descriptions, depictions, or discussions of war, identity-based violence/hate crimes, abuse, sexual violence, or self-harm, you may want to consider using a content note.
A content note is a way of giving people more information about the content of an event so that they can decide for themselves whether or not this is the type of event they want to attend. For those who have suffered trauma, a content note can empower them to take care of themselves as they feel is appropriate.
Content notes are not guaranteed to prevent strong reactions. If you plan to include a content note, consider including it on advertisements, websites, social media, and tickets that people will see before the event. An example might be: “CN: depictions of sexual violence.”
- If you include a content note on a program or at the beginning of the event, do so with enough time for participants to leave without feeling singled out or put on the spot.
- Consider announcing a content note 5 minutes before the start of the event, while people are still being seated and then again before the event begins.
- If your event is made up of multiple presentations, performances, or components, it is generally okay to give a blanket content note instead of repeated content notes throughout, unless the event welcomes new participants/audience members throughout (as in the case of a conference, for example).
At the Event
A combination of content notes, sharing available resources on campus, and providing an opportunity to debrief or process difficult material can be ample structural support for students at a challenging or emotional event.
Don’t put people on the spot at an event or ask them to share personal experiences in ways that feel compulsory.
If you think you may need support staff at your event, please contact the Dean of Students Office to discuss options.
After the Event
Opportunities to discuss or debrief events with difficult topics or themes can be helpful.
- Consider having members of your group stay after an event or reconvene in a different space in case anyone wants to talk or wants to be pointed toward resources, but know your own limits and abilities. This after-event time may also be a good opportunity for inviting a faculty member with expertise in the area of your event.
- Consider providing discussion questions in your program or on social media.
If you would like to discuss receiving additional staff support or advice for your event, please contact the Dean of Students Office.