Just as students are told “there are no stupid questions,” it is also important for students to be told that there are no stupid feelings.

In an article from Tuesday’s edition of The Daily Eastern News, graduate students will be a hosting a workshop called “What I Wish My Professor Knew” during Friday’s EIUnity Diversity Conference.

The purpose of the workshop is to give students a safe space to open up about any incidents that they have faced in the classroom, such as insensitive remarks by either teachers or other students.

A classroom is the main stage for learning that is available for a diverse audience to experience.

Whether it be in regards to the color of skin, gender or any quality someone holds dearly as a prominent part of their identity, those characteristics and qualities must be respected by both us as classmates and teachers.

Allowing stereotypes, misconceptions and ignorance to affect the way we treat each other on a classmate to classmate or teacher to classmate level is not acceptable.

Every single one of us on this campus is unique, we all come from different backgrounds and see different futures for ourselves. These things must be taken into consideration every day to ensure an open learning environment .

The classroom is one of the environments that a student should feel he or she can share and express his or her background and future. The student should always feel safe instead of insecure, supported instead of judged and respected instead of belittled in the classroom, with their classmates and in front of their teacher.

It is understandable that this insensitivity is not always done consciously. Often times, we do not know that what we say or the way we act may be considered offensive.

To eliminate disrespect on this level, we at The Daily Eastern News encourage everyone to not be afraid to get to know who they are sharing their classroom and campus with. It is OK to ask questions, in a polite matter, if you find yourself confused or unsure of how your response could offend your classmate.

Even more importantly, we encourage everyone to not be afraid to stick up for and console a classmate that is offended by an insensitive comment or action.

The best way to create a comfortable climate in a classroom amongst the students and teachers is to communicate. If you are the one being offended, do not be afraid to mention that and explain why. If you are a witness, do not be afraid to stand up and support your peer. If you are the speaker of the offensive act, do not be afraid to learn from your mistake.

No matter who we are in the classroom setting during one of these situations, we are all responsible for contributing to creating a respectful and safe learning environment.

Just as everyone in our classroom deserves to be sitting in one of the desks, everyone in our classroom also deserves a safe space to learn and express themselves.