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Exclusive: Sussex are enforcing a gender neutral language policy across the SU </h1>
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Kyle Farrell </a>
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<p>Gender neutral language must be used where an individual’s pronouns are not known</p>
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<p>Sussex Union Council, made up of elected student
representatives, has implemented a ‘gender inclusive policy’ meaning
that SU media, outlets, and meetings are all required to use gender
neutral language.</p>
<p>In an email sent out to Sussex students yesterday, recipients were
informed that a person’s pronoun preference must be known before any
official SU event or meeting. Societies must also confirm individual’s
pronoun preference, and not assume all members will want to be refereed
as ‘he’ or ‘she’.</p>
<p>The policy stated: “Students’ Union meetings, Students’ Union events,
Students’ Union campaigns, Students’ Union societies, Students’ Union
volunteering schemes, where appropriate, pronouns must be stated at the
beginning of every meeting, even if they have been stated at previous
meetings. Gender neutral language must be used where an individual’s
pronouns are not known.”</p>
<p><img class="gmail-alignnone gmail-size-full gmail-wp-image-14989" src="http://i2.wp.com/thetab.com/blogs.dir/32/files/2016/11/019344-2bca18ea.jpg?resize=640%2C445&ssl=1" alt="019344_2bca18ea" width="600" height="417"></p>
<p>Falling under the Students’ Union umbrella, Sussex student media The
Badger, URF and UniTV must also abide to the gender neutral language
policy.</p>
<p>The email read: “Gender neutral language must be used by all student
media. When conducting interviews, an individual’s gender must not be
assumed and gender neutral language should be used if pronouns are not
known. Where possible, pronouns should be checked before interviews.”</p>
<p>The email continued: “Students’ Union outlets – Gender neutral
language should be used by all staff in the Students’ Union and this
policy should be included as part of their induction. Uniforms for the
outlets should not be gendered.</p>
<p>“Students’ Union communications – Gender neutral language must be used on USSU social media, news stories, and newsletters.</p>
<p>“Students’ Union elections- Gender neutral must be used by all those
involved in elections and election candidates will be briefed on this
policy prior to elections.</p>
<p>“Gender inclusivity training will be given to all elected officers
and any relevant staff members as part of their induction. The training
will be developed in consultation with Gender Liberation Sussex.”</p>
<p>The full policy write up can be found <a href="https://www.sussexstudent.com/democracy/policies/gender-inclusive-language/">here</a>.</p>
<p>Sussex outlets have also stated that their employees can message them to change their pronouns on their payslips.</p>
<p>Third year politics student, Oliver, said: “Isn’t it a bit much stating everyone’s pronouns at the beginning of meetings?”</p>
<p>Foundation Social Science student, AJ, added: “I think that’s a great
way for the SU to make the university more inclusive and comfortable
for all students.”</p>
<p>Sussex University are the first institute to create a gender neutral language policy. This month, <a href="http://thetab.com/uk/oxford/2016/12/12/su-leaflet-tells-oxford-students-use-ze-rather-stop-transgender-discrimination-27606">Oxford University allegedly told students to use gender pronouns</a> such as ‘ze’ instead of ‘he’ or ‘she’ to stop transgender discrimination, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/dec/13/oxford-student-union-denies-telling-students-to-use-gender-neutral-pronoun">however the Students’ Union denied the claim</a>.</p>
<p><em>Sussex SU has been approach for comment.</em></p><p><em><a href="http://thetab.com/uk/sussex/2016/12/21/sussex-enforcing-gender-neutral-language-policy-across-su-15675">http://thetab.com/uk/sussex/2016/12/21/sussex-enforcing-gender-neutral-language-policy-across-su-15675</a><br></em></p><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature">**************************************<br>N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to its members<br>and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner or sponsor of the list as to the veracity of a message's contents. Members who disagree with a message are encouraged to post a rebuttal, and to write directly to the original sender of any offensive message. A copy of this may be forwarded to this list as well. (H. Schiffman, Moderator)<br><br>For more information about the lgpolicy-list, go to <a href="https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/" target="_blank">https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/</a><br>listinfo/lgpolicy-list<br>*******************************************</div>
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