![“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."](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/ps-160128011903/85/Ps-6-320.jpg)
Ps
- 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.