Cries of “ouch!” may soon ring out across Indiana University Southeast’s campus if students take the suggestions in a language guide to heart.
The school’s campus diversity coordinators have a “Reducing Bias in Language” campaign to assist students when they encounter “offensive” language.
“Ouch!” outbursts are recommended in conjunction with other ideas mined from the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.).
“Say ’Ouch!’ It can be used simply to covey what was said had a negative impact on you regardless if it was directed toward you,” the guidelines say.
The education watchdog Campus Reform, which broke the story, contacted the university for comment but did not receive a response prior to publication on Tuesday.
Some of the language pitfalls covered by the guide include:
• “Instead of the elderly, use older person.”
• “Instead of homosexuals, use gay men or lesbians.”
• “Instead of mankind, use humanity or people.”
• “Instead of man-made, use artificial.”
• “Order of presentation of social groups can also imply that the first-mentioned group dominates the later mentioned groups. Instead of [saying] white Americans and racial minorities, use racial minorities and white Americans.”
Vice President of Policy Reform at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education Azhar Majeed told the organization that it was important to make a distinction between rules and suggestions.
“The guide does encompass a great deal of everyday expression, and it is possible that some students’ speech will be chilled if they are confused into thinking that the document represents official policy of the university,” Mr. Majeed said. “However, given the introductory language I highlighted, I think it would be unlikely that any student reading the guide would be mistaken and led to believe they could face disciplinary action for their speech.”
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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