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Tag: Oxford University

All the latest breaking news on Oxford University. Browse THEGAYUK’s complete collection of news, articles and commentary on Oxford University.

  • Oxford students banned Christian Union from Freshers’ fair over homophobia concerns

    Students at Balliol, one Oxford University’s most prestigious colleges, banned the Christian Union (CU) from its Freshers’ Fair, citing homophobia and neo-colonialism as its reasoning.

    The CU was banned from attending and recruiting student members at the college’s Freshers’ Fair this year after organisers said that their presence could cause harm to communities “struggling to feel welcome in Oxford.”

    President of the JCR, Hubert Au, wanted the event to be a “secular environment.”

    Au wrote,  “Christianity’s influence on many marginalised communities has been damaging in its methods of conversion and rules of practice, and is still used in many places as an excuse for homophobia and certain forms of neo-colonialism”.

    The decision was reached through discussions with the JCR Welfare subcommittee.

    In the end, a general, multi-faith religious stall was allowed at the fair on the understanding that no representatives from any of the faith societies staffed it. There was a vote by students at the college, on Sunday that said the decision was a ” violation of free speech and religious freedom.”  The motion prohibited the barring of official religious societies from future freshers’ fairs.

  • Oxford student union denies “Ze” pronoun story

    A statement released by the Oxford University students’ union has denied it instructed students to use “ze” pronouns.

    An Oxford University student representative has denied that the university requires people to use the “ze” pronoun after The Times reported that a leaflet was distributed to students suggesting that they should look to use non-gendered pronouns.

    A statement released by Jo Gregory-Brough stated that the information published was incorrect and that a leaflet had not been produced implying that all students must use “ze”.

    Gregory-Brough said,

    “As far as we’re aware, the information which has been published is incorrect. We have not produced a leaflet implying that all students must use ‘ze’ pronouns to refer to others, or indeed to themselves.”

     

    However, the statement does suggest that there are other resources that are used by student leaders and welfare representatives, which,

    “…alongside other information and tips, reminds individuals of the importance of not assuming the pronouns of their peers while also aiming to normalise stating pronouns in introductions.”

     

    Jo Gregory-Brough outlined support for the trans community at the university by stating,

    “We would also like to clearly state that we would never tell anyone to use ‘ze’ pronouns instead of ‘he’ or ‘she’ if ‘he’ or ‘she’ is the pronoun someone wishes to use. That would be misgendering and would likely have the biggest impact on individuals (ie, some trans students) who may already be struggling to get people to use ‘he’ or ‘she’ for them. It would be totally counterproductive.

    Some critics have slammed the practice of adding pronouns to an introduction as a form of outing and forcing people to acknowledge their gender or sexual identity before they are ready to do so or enforcing a label upon themselves which may not feel comfortable.

    The use of pronoun confirmation is “standard practice” according to Gregory-Brough who said it was “disappointing” that the media storm surrounding the story beset the union’s efforts to “ensure our trans students feel welcome within the Oxford community.”

     

     

  • Oxford University students are being instructed to use “Ze” instead of “he” or “she”

    Students at one of the world’s most prestigious universities have been handed a leaflet explaining why they should start to use the pronoun “ze” instead of gender-specific pronouns such as “he” or “she”.

    The leaflet, which has been distributed by the student union is a campaign they hope will prevent discrimination and offence caused by the incorrect use of pronouns for students at the University. It is hoped that the rules will be used in lectures and in general use around campus.

    The Sunday Times reported that students already face disciplinary action if they purposefully misgender a person. According to its behaviour code, “repeated use of the wrong pronoun to define a transgender person is an offence”. Language that “may amount to harassment” or “deliberately using the wrong name or pronoun in relation to a transgender person, or persistently referring to their gender identity history” could land the perpetrator in trouble.

    Cambridge University is apparently moving to use the gender neutral pronouns. Its student’s welfare officer, Sophie Buck,  said,

    “Events start with a speaker introducing themselves using a gender neutral pronoun. It’s part of a drive to make the union intersectional.”

    However, it the use of introducing gender pronouns or asking people to reveal what pronouns they wish to use, has been criticised by some as a means of forcing someone to use gender pronouns before they are ready to come out or reveal their gender identity before they are comfortable to do so.