It's hard to achieve that balance. I certainly agree with what you're saying, but I think that we're shifting into the realm of pandering to every little thing that makes people feel weird inside and it takes away from those that have actual issues. I think that it's important to be challenged - to feel that weird feeling of being uncomfortable at little things if people can hope to be able to overcome real traumatic situations. That said, the professor in the article should've given the option, like yours did, to say "no thanks" and do an alternate assignment. No reason to force someone to relive that experience. I'd be interested to read more on the subject; I don't personally understand how someone reads something and it affects them so much. I understand that it does but I don't know how/why. I'm not very empathetic and I've never had anything like that happen, so it's a foreign concept to me. Edit - I guess it doesn't really matter. kingmudsy explained it like a boss.