The question has been raised at schools across the nation alike: should content warnings be required in class? With more media attention to trauma and mental health, people are beginning to consider the implications their words can have on others. There is so much chaos and violence in the world today that it is important to look out for each other however we can. Especially here, at Simon’s Rock, where many classes are discussion based and our students come from a myriad of different backgrounds and experiences, the query is very relevant. While there is no rule dictating that our faculty and students must use content warnings, I believe that the members of the Simon’s Rock community should strive to use them in order to create a safe learning environment.

In response to some of the confusion surrounding the new absence policy change and its impact, as the unofficially official campus newspaper we wanted to do a full coverage of this change and how it will affect you. 

Simon’s Rock's break policy has historically been controversial. After the creation of RISE last year, one of the issues in the initial discussion was that petitioning to stay on campus over breaks needed to be made easier and more reliable, especially for students who weren't comfortable or safe returning to their home environments over break. This semester it seems like misunderstandings between the administration and the student body are still an issue, especially in the case of a new clause in the campus handbook that would create a $250 fee for students to stay over campus. Importantly, this rule applies to international students, for whom traveling home over break is prohibitively expensive. In the past, break fees were comparatively minimal. This issue was notably pointed out in a scathing email from a student to several members of the administration including Brady McCartney and Ian Bickford. The email was then forwarded by its author to other students and faculty, rapidly making the rounds across campus. It is noteworthy mostly because it was sent out early in the semester and widely circulated, making it the first exposure to the heated nature of campus politics for many new students.