One of the top stories at the New York Times on Thursday was a feature with this headline: “On Campus, Trump Fans Say They Need ‘Safe Spaces.’”

Via the New York Times:

Amanda Delekta, a sophomore at the University of Michigan and political director of the College Republicans, was ecstatic when her candidate, Donald J. Trump, won the presidential election.

But her mood of celebration quickly faded when students held an evening vigil on campus — to mourn the results — and her biology teacher suspended class on the assumption, Ms. Delekta said, that students would be too upset to focus.

She was outraged. “Nobody has died,” Ms. Delekta said. “The United States has not died. Democracy is more alive than ever. Simply put, the American people voted and Trump won.”

The Times goes on to report that Delekta started a petition accusing the college president of catering to the liberal majority. This resulted in a fruitful one-on-one meeting with the president.

The Times then segues:

Conservative students who voted for Mr. Trump say that even though their candidate won, their views are not respected. Some are adopting the language of the left, saying they need a “safe space” to express their opinions — a twist resented by left-leaning protesters.

This is where a reporter would usually quote a person expressing the need for “a safe space.” But that doesn’t happen here; readers are just left to presume that “some” Trump supporters are demanding “safe spaces.”  

“Some.” It’s one of those squishy words in journalism. Who precisely are these Trump supporters demanding “safe spaces”?

Maybe it comes later in the story? I decided to keep reading.

The story goes on to mention a professor who was scolded for bringing a bottle of champagne to class as an intellectual exercise. And then there is a student, Ibtihal Makki, who objects to the idea of white people needing safe spaces.

“To turn around and say that they need safe spaces after their candidate won I think is ironic and hypocritical,” said Ms. Makki, explaining that one’s conservatism cannot be identified by his or her skin color.

The story concludes with Delekta, the Michigan student, saying she wouldn’t be surprised to see tension flare again soon.

There is no mention of any Trump supporter asking for a safe space. Anywhere.

I decided to reach out to Ms. Delekta and ask if she expressed the desire or need for a safe space during her interview with the Times. This is how she responded:

No. Quite the opposite, my call is for open dialogue between people of different identities on campus to foster more respect and understanding.

So who are these Trump fans saying they need safe spaces? Beats me.

There might be some Trump fans out there asking for safe spaces, but you won’t find any in a New York Times story headlined, “On Campus, Trump Fans Say They Need ‘Safe Spaces.’”  

And this is the media that is supposed to protect us from “fake news”? Physician, heal thyself.

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[Image Credit: NYT]