Opinions Bianca Ring
Bianca Ring Opinions Editor
Words matter. As an editor in a college newspaper, that phrase. Communication is one of the most important human survival tools, and it is the foundation of so much of human culture and history. How we communicate can show a lot about us, depending on our accents, speech patterns, and word choice. The way we phrase something can hint to the reader what our own beliefs are without directly stating them, which can sometimes be used as a convenient way to harass or threaten someone without overtly stating your intent. The immense gravity of this concept is the backdrop under which we must discuss this seemingly trivial question: does it matter if we refer
Craig Efrati Staff Writer
Since the start of this turbulent school year, many changes have been made on Union’s campus regarding COVID-19. One of those changes at the end of Winter term was to change mask requirements in most indoor spaces from mandatory to optional. This change, in addition to testing no longer being required starting week 3 of Spring term, has prompted the AAUP or the American Association of University Professors at Union to release a statement calling for Union to adopt a mask supportive policy like our peer school Skidmore. This it was argued would allow for individuals to make the best choices for them in a more supportive environment and
Thursday, April 14, 2022 | Concordiensis
Many colleges and universities across the United States have shifted their terthe past few decades, for a variety of reasons. In 2017, Yale announced that formal documents would no longer use the term freshman due to its gendered nature. The Yale Daily News rewanted their language to feel more inclusive towards all students, as their former dean John Hathaway had received various complaints over the years from students and parents who felt ostracized. Other colleges such as Bates and Colby have made the change for similar reasons. University of South Carolina’s Whitney Watts cites a second reason for colleges to abandon freshman: the term was originally invented as a word for an inexperienced
would allow faculty members to require masks in indoor settings for long periods of time. I spoke to the two professors who released the AAUP statement to the administration through a zoom interview. The two professors highlighted that there has not been a statement from the administration regarding how many cases would be needed for Union to go back to required masking. They also felt that although they haven’t discussed testing among themselves, they believe that testing should be required in an effort “to have a clear sense of where the pandemic is. We don’t know how the administration will react to this,” in the words of also stressed that “for me it is clear that masking is scientifically proven to help with the transmission of the disease.” Without testing, we simply do not know what is going on
person, or a novice. Although the word by no means is meant to be used derogatorily, Watts argues that since not tering college as a “traditional, fresh-out-of-high-school be accurately described by a synonym for “inexperienced.” When my mother went back to college for her third year student at SUNY Orange, but she certainly wasn’t fresh out of high school. Students in situations similar to my mother’s could reasonably be alienated by the term. Union College has made the change from freshman to Zuckerman expressed to me was for the purposes of making our terminology more gender neutral. In an email correspondence, he explained to me that “While the term man is sometimes used to describe the experience of all
and have no knowledge of what is transmitted on campus. The interview stressed over and over again that students and professors should be able to enforce masking in private spaces if they wish to. The other, Professor Claire Bracken, hinted that, “if we had a mask supportive policy, I think that it would encourage a particular attitude around masking.” The issue highwas that of “social pressure” that prevented students from exercising their true beliefs around masks. She asks, “how can we ensure that those people who do not feel safe when they are not wearing a mask can wear a mask without feeling marginalized?” masks would not need to be required everywhere on campus, but that people should respect others’ decisions around masks. This would
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human beings, it could ignore the impact that women have as equal members of the human race. Given this concern, there has been a change to always use gender neutral language that is inclusive… We want to do all that we can to make sure that all students know that they are valued by the language we use.” As Concordy’s Opinions editor, I’d like to be perfectly honest: when I started writing this article, I thought that making such a big deal about subtle terminology might be a performative distraction from the larger, more direct issues that women and nonbinary people face. I’ve never personally felt uncomfortable with being called a freshman, and I have never heard a student complain about the use of the term. I continue to believe that symbolic gestures such as this are not an acceptable replacement for more direct feminist policy, such as pro-
viding resources for female and nonbinary students and taking action against staff and students who continuously disrespect women. However, after hearing Dean Zuckerman’s response, and the arguments of other universities’ spokespeople, I have to agree that changing
entail respecting someone’s choice to enforce mask wearing in certain spaces as well as not ridiculing those who wear masks elsewhere. This will also help to ensure that those who are elderly, immunocompromised, or in contact with immunocompromised
people in our community are given the options they need to lead safe lives. It is crucial to let people make their own decisions about masking, and this is why a mask supportive policy would be best for Union so everyone can make choices that are best for them.
meaningless. Even though most people don’t hold any negative feelings towards the term, making a small change in our language to accommodate the few people who are affected by it is worth the effort. These smaller gestures are appreciated as long as they are coupled with a sincere effort to make women and nonbinary people feel safe on campus, because words matter, but more importantly, the people who are affected by the words we use matter.
Concordiensis Vol. CXLIV, Issue XIX, April 14, 2022 Jing Chen & Michael Rosenbaum Editor-in-Chief Daniel Greenman, News Editor Bianca Ring, Opinions Editor Avanti Khare, Sci/Tech Editor Zahra Khan, World/Business Michael Rosenbaum, 807 Editor Editor Trey Everett, Photo Editor concordiensis.com Email: concordy@gmail.com Office: 406 Reamer Campus Center
Mail: Concordiensis Box 2577 807 Union Street
