CONCORD, N.H. — The president of the University of New Hampshire said Wednesday he is troubled and offended by many parts of a “bias-free language guide” posted on the school’s website, particularly a suggestion that using the word “American” is problematic because it fails to recognize South America.
The guide, developed by students and staffers in 2013, attracted little attention until this week, when it was featured on the conservative news site Campus Reform. Asked about it Wednesday, university president Mark Huddleston said the guide is not campus policy.
The guide appears as a resource on a UNH website detailing the university’s efforts to create an inclusive, diverse and equitable community. It says it is meant to encourage critical thinking about terms used in conversation and writing.
One section warns against the terms “older people, elders, seniors, senior citizens.” It suggests “people of advanced age” as preferable, although it notes that some have “reclaimed” the term “old people.” Other preferred terms include “person of material wealth” instead of rich, “person who lacks advantages that others have” instead of poor and “people of size” to replace the word overweight.
In another suggestion unlikely to gain traction in New England, the guide suggests “y’all,” not “guys,” when referring to a group.
