[lg policy] University Of Sussex Student Union Adds New Rule To Gender Pronoun Use

[Harold Schiffman]

University Of Sussex Student Union Adds New Rule To Gender Pronoun Use [image:
University of Sussex ramps up gender inclusion efforts]University of Sussex
ramps up gender inclusion efforts
(Photo : Sara D. Davis/Getty Images)

The student union at the University of Sussex has urged members to ask
people first about their preferred pronoun before calling them a "he" or
"she." This comes in the midst of heightened public interest over gender
equality.

The Sun
<https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2510504/students-ban-using-offensive-he-and-she-pronouns-in-meetings-and-emails-as-they-dont-want-to-assume-gender/>
reported
that the University of Sussex Student's Union has added the rule in order
to avoid assumptions on an individual's gender. The regulations will be
implemented for every meeting as well as any type of media or
communications.

It is named the Gender Inclusive Language Policy. This urges students to
specify their preferred pronoun at the start in order to prevent offense.

If ever introductions cannot be made, though, gender-neutral language is
expected to be used. Gender-specific pronouns such as "he" and "she" will
be replaced with "they" while "them" will be used in place of "him" and
"her."

The student union has declared that the policy should be used by all of its
participating staff and students. This is part of the group's efforts to
promote inclusion especially for non-binary and transgender individuals.

It was noted that the University of Sussex is believed to be the first to
have this policy. Previously, Oxford University
<http://www.universityherald.com/articles/54824/20161213/oxford-university-urges-students-use-ze-place-traditional-pronouns.htm>
encouraged
its student community to use the gender neutral pronoun "ze."

Next, it urged other institutions to "remove gender-specific titles
<http://www.universityherald.com/articles/55835/20161219/oxford-university-urges-colleges-gender-neutral.htm>."
Instead, institutions are advised to use only academic titles like Dr. and
Prof.

According to the Daily Mail
<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4079694/Student-union-bans-use-don-t-want-make-assumptions-gender.html>,
any individual who is continued to be called the wrong pronoun can report
their concerns to officers. These elected officers will go through gender
inclusivity training.

Meanwhile, the University of Kansas
<http://www.universityherald.com/articles/57753/20161229/university-kansas-libraries-give-students-pronoun-pins-inclusion-effort.htm>
has
also ramped up its inclusion efforts. The school's library system has
developed a "You Belong Here" marketing effort to make sure that students
feel welcome regardless of their gender.

The pins are helpful in letting others know how students should be
addressed. Using the wrong pronoun can led to the other person being hurt,
disrespected and invalidated.

http://www.universityherald.com/articles/58188/20170102/university-sussex-student-union-adds-new-rule-gender-pronoun-use.htm





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