This fall, the University of Iowa wants students to bring something new to class: nameplates with their preferred gender pronouns.
The school joins a growing list of colleges that are moving beyond “he” and “she” and “him” and “her.” Students and faculty will now be required to use their gender-neutral options “ze,” “zem,” “zir or hir,” “zirs or hirs”—if that’s what the student being addressed wants—CNS News reported.
Other acceptable pronouns include the popular but ungrammatical “they,” which is used by many “non-binary” folks to refer to one person in lieu of the traditional “she” or “he.”
“My pronouns are ‘he, him and his,'” says University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld in a rather cringe-inducing instructional video posted on YouTube for the occasion (I’m pretty sure “his” is a determinant, but nevermind.)
“Don’t make assumptions,” he adds. “Help us make the University of Iowa as inclusive and affirming as possible.”
Iowa is the latest in a growing number of universities that are letting students pick their gender pronouns, including the University of Tennessee, Harvard University, Boston University, University of Vermont, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, University of Massachusetts and Scripps College.
The school also encourages students to “update their names and pronouns” to match their preference on the school registration system. “Have students create name cards in class or meetings with their names and pronouns listed,” instructs one of the participants in the video.
But what if you get confused by all these new and interchangeable gender identities and refer to a student the wrong way? Just own it and move past it, says a student in the video (if you’re not reported for gender-based discrimination under Title IX before, that is).
As Heat Street previously reported, the university is also plunking down $30,000 to add new signage on 147 single-occupancy bathrooms reading: “Anyone can use this restroom, regardless of gender identity or expression.”
The University of Iowa says it knows of about 20 students who “have self-identified as transgender or non-binary on the admissions form,” a university spokeswoman had told Heat Street.
