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U-M's Inclusive Language Campaign Seeks To Eliminate Words Like 'Crazy'

By Christy Strawser
ANN ARBOR (CBS Detroit) Students at the University of Michigan are being asked to sign a pledge that basically says they won't use certain words -- like "crazy" and "insane" -- and that they'll encourage their peers not to use them either.

Students are roaming campus asking classmates to sign the pledge as part of a Michigan initiative called the Inclusive Language campaign, which, per the student life section of the school's website "aims to encourage the campus community to consider the impact of their word choices on others."

The pledge requests are accompanied by dozens and dozens of posters around campus urging people to use only "inclusive language."

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 "rape" in reference to anything other than a literal crime are also verboten.

The words were identified by students as being troubling in focus groups, university spokesman Rick Fitzgerald said.

"It's been very positive on campus, very well received," he added of the campaign.

This is how the university explains it: "The ILC raises awareness about the power of words, why certain language can be hurtful to others, and how to be more inclusive in how we speak and act as members of the Michigan campus community."

There's a Facebook page dedicated to the campaign and it has 427 likes, and a variety of comments -- many of which disparage the mission of scrubbing language in Ann Arbor.

Jim Michael Rosser wrote on the page: "The nazis, soviets, and Mao's China also limited speech, that turned out real well."

On the other side, Mike Meyer writes: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me." I heard this in kindergarten. I think it's great that university students are challenging this radical, establishment, way of thinking."

The Facebook page includes inspirational quotes about inclusiveness including one from Mayor Tommy Battle of Huntsville, Alabama that says, "An inclusive society is a beautiful society." At Halloween, they posted messages about cultural stereotypes not being fodder for costumes.

As for the campaign, there's no repercussion for anyone using the cautioned words. The University is spending about $16,000 on the overall campaign.

The money is being spent on materials, Fitzgerald said.

And he thinks anyone saying the initiative steps on free speech is flat-out wrong, saying when everyone is on the same page with language it's easier for all involved to understand the ideas being expressed.

"What we do is educate, education is our strength, we're an institution of higher education and I think programs like that that make people aware of how others may perceive the words that they use actually enhances free speech," he said.

 

 

 

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