Although one space was enough for two previously separate forums on safe spaces, there wasn't enough room in Mathematics 203 for the many students who wanted to attend last night's Safe Spaces Forum. The Columbia University College Republicans and Everyone Allied Against Homophobia hosted a contentious debate after CUCR distributed fliers opposing the existence of safe spaces to residence halls last week. About 40 students were turned away from the debate by Public Safety officers, who said the lecture hall had reached capacity. "I'm really angry. I came early. I wanted to speak my mind. And now I'm standing out here," Leah Farrell, BC '13, said. Members of CUCR argued that the University as a whole should be a safe space for all students, and that designated safe spaces for specific groups are not necessary and promote minority discrimination. "What we are trying to argue is that safe spaces are offensive to the rest of campus. They send the message that if you're a minority, you don't fit in at Columbia. The only way you fit in is if you have your own separate zone," said William Prasifka, CC '12, a member of the panel and director of public relations for CUCR. Sean Udell, CC '11 and president of the Columbia Queer Alliance, countered that safe spaces are necessary not as places of separation, but rather spaces for students to gain peer support and engage in conversation. Without safe spaces, Udell argued, the University sends a message that "anyone who is a marginalized person must stand up for themselves," even though, Udell said, "that's an unfair expectation." "There is still an assumption that everyone at Columbia is not racist or homophobic," he said. "We have to have a space where we can have an open and frank discussion." Panelists from both groups interjected throughout the forum. Audience members, in solidarity with one side or another, snapped fingers and shouted out comments, eventually reminded by the moderator to keep responses respectful and disruption to a minimum. Farrell, an organizer of the upcoming Take Back the Night march, said she was angered by the fliers distributed by CUCR and the notion that the University is already a "safe space" as a campus. "If that were the case, one in four women wouldn't be sexually assaulted before they graduate," she said. Two established safe spaces at Columbia are the Stephen Donaldson lounge, for LGBT students, and the Malcolm X lounge, for black students. Christopher Travis, CC '11 and historian of the Black Students Association, said his group doesn't have a monopoly over the Malcolm X lounge. "In order to reach the people we need to reach, we need to have these spaces," he said. Several students in support of CUCR took the microphone to question whether or not safe spaces foster diversity, if meetings take place in enclosed spaces. Prasifka said he agrees that safe spaces encourage insularity. "I oppose certain groups that have privilege," he said. "Why should I need a particular room to go into to feel my identity? Why would the university be subsidizing this?" Avi Edelman, CC '11 and president of EAAH, agreed that groups "can become factionalized." However, he added that "groups should challenge themselves to reach beyond their spaces." An earlier version of this article misattributed a quote to Christopher Travis. It was Avi Edelman who said 90 percent of the work EAAH does is outside the University's designated safe space . Spectator regrets this error. news@columbiaspectator.com