“Inclusive Language Campaign”

[Gob]

Dozens of posters plastered across the University of Michigan caution students not to say things that might hurt others’ feelings, part of a new “Inclusive Language Campaign” at the state’s flagship public university that cost $16,000 to implement.



Words declared unacceptable through the campaign include “crazy,” “insane,” “retarded,” “gay,” “tranny,” “gypped,” “illegal alien,” “fag,” “ghetto” and “raghead.” Phrases such as “I want to die” and “that test raped me” are also verboten.

University spokesman Rick Fitzgerald told The College Fix in an email the campaign aims to “address campus climate by helping individuals understand that their words can impact someone and to encourage individuals to commit to creating a positive campus community.”ILCinside

Students have been asked to sign a pledge to “use inclusive language” and to help their peers “understand the importance of using inclusive language,” according to campaign materials.

Though only in existence for one semester, the Inclusive Language Campaign has maintained a strong presence throughout the university. Students roaming the campus frequently encounter posters of all sizes reminding them: “YOUR WORDS MATTER,” and asking questions such as: “If you knew that I grew up in poverty, would you still call things ‘ghetto’ and ‘ratchet’?”

Representatives of the Inclusive Language Campaign did not respond to repeated requests for comment from The College Fix.

Junior Kidada Malloy, who helps promote the program on campus, told the Michigan Daily the campaign “is a great program because it will improve the day-to-day language of students on campus by providing education around words that are offensive.”

Fitzgerald told The College Fix the university budgeted $16,000 for the campaign. The program comes at a time when the university has raised tuition and fees for the last two consecutive years.

“This program is intended to be educational, not regulatory,” Fitzgerald said of the campaign. “We hope there is only the understanding that we all participate in, and have the power to influence campus culture.”

ILC’s Facebook page includes a variety of inclusion-based material, inspirational quotes, personal stories, and even a video that details how to address a person by the correct pronouns. It operates in conjunction with two other campuswide initiatives, Expect Respect and Change It Up!, both of which emphasize inclusive words in and out of the classroom.

Students living in university housing are urged to take part in a Change It Up! workshop, which “brings bystander intervention skills to first-year housing residents for the purpose of building safe, inclusive, and respectful communities.”

Before and after completing these workshops, students fill out surveys in which they reflect on internal biases that may pose a threat to an “inclusive campus.”

As the Inclusive Language Campaign has enlarged its influence on campus through various kick-off events, interactive programming and provoking visuals, some students have called into question how it reconciles with the university’s policy on free speech, which “encourages open and vigorous discussion and strives to maintain an environment where the free exchange of ideas and opinions can flourish.”

Asked if the campaign stifles free speech, Fitzgerald said “we believe this program has just the opposite effect.”

“We believe it will make discourse more constructive by respecting the views and perspectives of others,” he said. “A campus conversation about the impact of words is good for everyone.”

The University of Maryland launched a similar campaign three years ago that cost $15,000.

[Lord Jim]

This sounds crazy, insane, and retarded...

[Econoline]

“If you knew that I grew up in poverty, would you still call things ‘ghetto’ and ‘ratchet’?”

Yes.

[oldr_n_wsr]

The University of Maryland launched a similar campaign three years ago that cost $15,000.

My daughter graduated from there just in time.

[Guinevere]

Words can hurt. What's wrong with reminding people of that fact. University is a place where students learn about all kinds of life and all kinds of consequences. Seems to me awareness is just part of the lesson and part of becoming a full-fledged and productive adult member of society

[rubato]

There are a lot of remedial English classes taught at University.


yrs,
rubato

[Big RR]

there's nothing wrong with awareness, but the dialog has to be both ways. Do people still get offended by "gypped" (and how many associate it with gypsies or the romani?). The offense should be confronted, but it should not be accepted as a given.

I recall when I was in college there was a movement afoot to change history to herstory to recognize the contributions of women. this despite the fact that the first syllable of the word history has nothing to do with men, as the latin root historia refers to written records.

While some took it seriously, it turned out to be a bit of a joke on everyone, as the Women Incorporated to Commit Herstory, which was prominent in the fight, showed by their acronym (WITCH). It was kind of an early poke at political correctness.

And that's the point, political correctness unfettered will lead to a watered down language with no effective communication.

[Crackpot]

Well if history teaches us anything is that people love to take a good idea and run with it past the point of it becoming a bad practice.

[BoSoxGal]

there's nothing wrong with awareness, but the dialog has to be both ways. Do people still get offended by "gypped" (and how many associate it with gypsies or the romani?). The offense should be confronted, but it should not be accepted as a given.

I was called out on that one in law school, by a close friend. I grew up with a bigot, and figured out before I even got to high school that most of what came out of his mouth wasn't to be repeated. However, I didn't know the historical connections to gypsies/romani, and having never looked the word up, I just assumed it meant what it meant in the context I had always heard it said - not only at home, but in books, TV, etc.

As soon as I understood the insult, I saw no reason to use the word when there are easy alternatives.

What harm is there in speaking in such a way as to avoid hurting feelings whenever one can?

[Gob]

And that's the point, political correctness unfettered will lead to a watered down language with no effective communication.

In the UK there was an attempt by the PC brigade to get "taking the Mick", removed from common usage, as they claimed it was derogatory to the Irish.

Unfortunately for them it soon emerged that the origin of "taking the Mick" was from Cockney rhyming slang, and actually was an abbreviation of "taking the Micky Bliss" = "taking the piss."

[MajGenl.Meade]

Well that's one apocryphal answer with zero evidence but the interwebs love it.

Another weak one is that "I was gypped" has anything whatever to do with 'gypsy' - no evidence for that either. The latter phrase appears to be of late 19th century USian origin, derivation unknown. Mind you, it does follow the post 1850 arrival of romani peoples.....

[Lord Jim]

What harm is there in speaking in such a way as to avoid hurting feelings whenever one can?

What harm is there in people not wearing their emotions on their sleeves and looking for offense wherever they can?

[Gob]

In all its various forms, taking the Michael, Taking the Mick etc etc, I have seen and heard it many times on TV as a general Reference or insult, BBC breakfast, Dramas, Comedy etc.
In this age of Political correctness why is this racist term still in use? The Golliwog doll has been banned, the Negro face on the Robertsons Jam Jar has been removed, any sign of offence to Islam or any other ethnic minority and the PC brigade come down like a Tonne of Bricks.

So why is the Term so Offencive, During the Irish Famine many Irish were forced to England to Escape it and look for work as the only language they spoke was Irish it was very difficult to find work and communicate, therefore while trying to communicate the Irish were seen as stupid and foolish and some unscrupulous people paid them little to nothing, therefore the term taking the fool out of the Michael originated, taking the Mick or making a fool of the Irish Person as he did not understand anything and easily fooled.

I wrote to Equality commission. The BBC, MPs and other bodies and none replied to me.

If it had of been a complaint about, Gypsies, Roma, Blacks or Asians do you think a Reply would have been more forthcoming, or is selective offence to Racism the only thing the PC brigade know about? So if you are White and off these Islands your identity is less important that recent migrants?

Update: Source, Nothing but the same old story, the roots of anti irish racism 1986, Liz Curtis isbn, 0 950738158. Published by Information on Ireland PO box 958 London W14 OJF.

[oldr_n_wsr]

What harm is there in people not wearing their emotions on their sleeves and looking for offense wherever they can?

Some people find offense in just about everything. They need to find their own inner peace.

[Lord Jim]

Some people find offense in just about everything.

I have always viewed those types as basically "attention starved"...

I can certainly see where some of the words on that list are offensive but this one:

illegal alien

really had me ...

If an illegal alien is offended by being called an illegal alien , tough titty. I'm offended by there being here illegally. And I'm certainly not going to sugar coat it by using a misleading PC term like "undocumented" as though the only problem is that they are the victim of a paperwork snafu....

[MajGenl.Meade]

So why is the Term so Offencive, During the Irish Famine many Irish were forced to England to Escape it and look for work as the only language they spoke was Irish

Irish, is it? Not sure the above is English though..... spelling, punctuation, misuse of capital letters and the amazing assertion that the paddies look for work because they only spoke one language. I suppose if they spoke two, they'd be idle bastards leaning on shovels. Thank the Lord that never happens.

Monolingual Irish speakers were generally of the poorer and less educated classes with no land. Irish was accepted as a vernacular language, but then as now, fluency in English was an essential element for those who wanted social mobility and personal advancement. After the legislative Union of Great Britain and Ireland's succession of Irish Education Acts that sponsored the Irish national schools and provided free public primary education, Hiberno-English replaced the Irish language. Since the 1850s, English medium education was promoted by both the UK administration and the Roman Catholic Church. This greatly assisted the waves of immigrants forced to seek new lives in the US and throughout the Empire after the Famine. Since then the various local Hiberno-English dialects comprise the vernacular language throughout the island.

So much for that.

Unfortunately for them it soon emerged that the origin of "taking the Mick" was from Cockney rhyming slang, and actually was an abbreviation of "taking the Micky Bliss" = "taking the piss."

Sure and didn't I say there was zero evidence that taking the mickey arose from any mythical Mickey Bliss but the worldnets love that explanation? Glad to see you switching your argument so deftly, Gob! Next thing you know, Texas A&M students will be suing every time a USian tells an Aggie joke....