The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill eliminated the word “freshman” from official university documents as part of a concerted effort by the administration to use “gender inclusive language.”
In a statement sent to the conservative CampusReform.org on Monday, administrators said they were “committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our community.”
“Consistent with that commitment, gender inclusive terms (chair; first year student; upper-level student, etc.) should be used on university documents, websites and policies,” the statement said.
But not all UNC students are excited about the change, or feel it is necessary at all.
Brandon Hartness, the executive vice chairman for the school’s college Republicans chapter, told Campus Reform, “I feel like they are making a big deal out of nothing.” “Girls,” he said, “are not going to deem the word [freshman] as sexist.”
“I feel like most people don’t even think about it,” Hartness continued.
UNC News Services Director Karen Moon said that the policy has actually been in effect since 2009, but only came into the spotlight after libertarian reporter John Stossel highlighted it.
“I also learned that the college [UNC Chapel Hill], to ‘protect’ women, had dropped the word ‘freshman’. The PC term is now ‘first year,'” Stossel wrote in an opinion piece published on Rasmussen Reports.
“UNC,” Stossel continued, “also decreed that no student may ‘implicitly’ or ‘explicitly’ ask for sex. (Then how do students get it?).”