On September 13, the Office of Equity and Inclusion notified the student body of Point Park University (PPU) that “action could be taken” against individuals who do not use their classmates’ preferred pronouns.
Campus Reform obtained a copy of the email.
The university’s Misgendering, Pronoun Misuse, and Deadnaming Policy states that “any individual who has been informed of another person’s gender identity, pronouns, or chosen name is expected to respect that individual.” If a complaint is filed regarding this policy, “action could be taken,” the email reads.
“While the University recognizes the aspect of intent versus impact, we must recognize that regardless of the intent, if an individual is impacted in a harmful way, action could be taken if a complaint is filed,” the email states.
The email served to notify students on the university’s anti-discrimination policy for the 2021-2022 academic year.
“The Office of Equity and Inclusion would like to welcome in the 2021-2022 academic year with information on current policies that exist through our office and information regarding the Preferred Name Policy, instances of misgendering, pronoun misuse, and deadnaming (the use of a person’s legal “dead” name instead of using the person’s chosen or preferred name), as well as resources on microaggressions and additional training,” the opening of the email reads.
The Preferred Name Policy allows a student or faculty member to use their preferred name when a legal name is not required.
Additionally, the email linked to the Pronouns and Inclusive Language Guide, which was created by a former student. The guide explains the importance of using “gender inclusive language” to avoid causing “trans and gender non-conforming folks to feel isolated.”
The guide also suggests changing “boyfriend/girlfriend” to “partner,” “ladies and gentlemen” to “students and guests,” “he or she” to “they,” etc.
Louis Corsaro, Point Park University’s managing director of university marketing and public relations, told Campus Reform, “Point Park University expects every member of its community – students, faculty and staff – to treat each other with respect.”
The exact nature of the “action” that might be taken is still less than certain.
Point Park University’s Student Government President Dennis McDermott said he did not know the “exact details of the policy.”
“I would imagine any violation (in this case misgendering, misuse of pronouns, or incorrectly using someone’s deadname when you are aware of their preferred name and pronouns) would result in a similar action to any act of discrimination against students on campus” McDermott told Campus Reform.
McDermott also provided a statement directed to students who “do not believe in these rights covered under [the] non-discrimination policy.”
He said, “I, of course, respect the beliefs of others and their right to express those beliefs, but those beliefs, no matter what they are, cannot impede or harm the rights of others, in this case the right of a student to be respected in their use of their preferred name and pronouns.”
To conclude, McDermott adds, “This is a fundamental belief not only I and Point Park University share (imagine that), but also the United States Constitution asserts.”
Not everyone at Park Point University, however, shares those beliefs.
Caitlin Wiscombe, a student, told Campus Reform that her sense of choice is not being respected regarding the implementation of these policies.
“I understand what the university is trying to do, to be more inclusive and make those people feel more involved and maybe less separated and more respected, but by asking me to do this instead of just allowing students to do it themselves is making me feel uncomfortable and making me feel like my choice isn’t being respected,” Wiscombe said.
Tyler Hertwig, a sophomore and track and field athlete, does not support the university’s policies either.
“I think it’s unreasonable to expect the 99.99% to compromise for the 0.01%,” Hertwig told Campus Reform.
“We live in a place where we have the opportunity to meet at least one person a day if we choose to give them our time,” he continued. “Out of the thousands of people you’ve met in your life, how many times have you asked for their gender versus how many times you’ve asked for their name?”
“To expect people to completely rewire how they interact with others is nuts. All for what, that 1 in 50 million chance of them possibly running into someone that’s ‘not’ a male or female,” Hertwig concluded.
HD Editor’s Note: Why Is This News Biblically Relevant?
There has been an overwhelming push in western societies in recent years to pressure those who hold Biblical values to compromise God’s standard of morality, for societies’ new definition of “right and wrong.”
The keyword here is compromise. Students are being asked to compromise reality, science, and the Biblical truth.
Ken Ham in an article, explained the problems that arise when society favors feelings over truth.
“The ‘gender identities’ so popular today are not biological sexes—they are determined by the feelings of the person claiming the gender identity. But feelings do not determine truth,” Ham urged. “Instead of relying on our feelings, we must turn to the Word of God for absolute truth and, by the power of God’s spirit and the gospel, line our feelings up with God’s Word and truth. And besides, because we are sinners (Romans 3:23) and our hearts are ‘deceitful above all things and desperately wicked’ (Jeremiah 17:9), we can’t trust our feelings!”
“Such individuals need compassion and kindness—and they need the truth that comes from God’s Word and is confirmed by observational science,” he continued. “There are only two genders/sexes in humans: male and female (Genesis 1:27). That’s how God has made us, and trying to change one’s gender is ultimately a sinful rejection of God’s design. Those who struggle with gender dysphoria need Gospel truth. They need to know that their identity need not be rooted in themselves and their feelings but rather in Christ, his death, and resurrection for them, and his design for them and their body.”
“Those who struggle with gender dysphoria don’t need chemicals, body mutilating surgery, cross-dressing clothes, new pronouns, and a new name—they need the Gospel message that changes hearts and lives for eternity and gives them a new identity rooted in Christ,” Ham concluded.
