Sunday, January 08, 2017

The 10 craziest things that offended college students in 2016

If you thought college students would run out of things to be offended by, think again. This year, colleges deemed everything from America-themed parties to Santa Claus decorations problematic, proving that the perpetually aggrieved will never rest.

In anticipation of the new year, which is sure to bring new offenses, Campus Reform has compiled a list of the 10 most ridiculous things college students and administrators were offended by in 2016.

1. Crucifix, “All Lives Matter” reported as 'hate incidents' at UW-L
A report from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse’s “Hate Response Team” revealed that students had filed formal complaints about everything from images of the crucifix to a blog post about life on campus as a white student. One student reported feeling unsafe upon seeing a Campus Crusade for Christ poster on campus, claiming that the cross represents “oppression and hate of the LGBT+ community.” In spite of the very active Hate Response Team, UW-L contends they care about free speech on campus. Right...

2. UNC claims Christmas vacations, golf outings are microaggressions
To help their staff avoid microaggressions, the University of North Carolina posted a guide on their website urging faculty members to avoid phrases like “husband/boyfriend,” which is heteronormative, and “Christmas vacation,” which “minimizes non-Christian spiritual rituals.” Further, staff should not invite other staff members on golf outings, because it assumes that everyone has the “financial resources/exposure to a fairly expensive and inaccessible sport.” UNC eventually removed the guide following Campus Reform’s reporting of the list, claiming that it was being misinterpreted as official university policy. This is stressful. We’re going to need to play a round of golf this Christmas vacation.

3. Rutgers: ‘avoiding someone’ is a microaggression
Students staying in the College Avenue Apartments at Rutgers University were treated to a bulletin board guiding them on how to avoid dangerous microaggressions, such as the phrases “that’s so ghetto” and “illegal aliens.” Flyers on the bulletin board linked to the school’s “Language Matters” campaign, which claims that “avoiding someone” could even be deemed a microassault. Would Rutgers be offended if we avoided their campus?

4. Pro-life flyers ‘racist,’ ‘vile
Pro-life students at Purdue University were accused of being racist for anti-abortion flyers drawing attention to the disproportionate abortion rate for black children versus white children. “Hands up don’t abort,” the Students for Life flyer read, co-opting the language of the Black Lives Matter movement. “Black children are an endangered species.” Angry Purdue students and professors swarmed the pro-life group’s Facebook page, calling them “hypocritical delusional ignorant cunts” and suggesting they “drink bleach.” Staff member Jamie Newman even joined in on the action, referring to the students as “vile, racist idiots” before threatening to rape pro-life women (which he defended as a “joke”). Students for Life got the last laugh, however, as Newman resigned shortly after the incident.

5. America-themed BBQ 'considered offensive' at Ramapo
Students at Ramapo College were forced to change the theme of a BBQ because an “American” theme was considered too offensive by the administration. According to emails obtained by Campus Reform, the College Republicans and College Democrats intended to cosponsor a residence hall BBQ to help register students to vote, but just two days before the event, the chief organizer was informed that the event could be “considered offensive” because of the “militaristic” depiction of Uncle Sam in posters promoting the BBQ. Nonetheless, the university denied it had forced anyone to change the theme.



Quick! Somebody please tell Lee Pitts we need some EPDs for college students.

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