UMass embraces gender neutrality

[Shana A]

UMass embraces gender neutrality
By Kristin Palpini
Staff Writer
Published on July 24, 2009

http://www.amherstbulletin.com/story/id/152545/

They may not have meant to, but some college and university professors have accidentally "outed" transgender students during roll call.

However, starting this semester, the University of Massachusetts is taking steps to protect the gender identities of its students with some technological tweaking that has been three years in the works.

In the fall, professors and administrators will receive class rosters and other documents with transgender students' chosen names as well as their legal ones in a move intended to prevent professors from calling students by unintentionally gender-revealing names.

[Mister]

Instead of making all these special provisions, why can't people actually change their documentation?  UMass closed a truly amazing theater this year because of budget cuts....   and they've spent three years changing rosters to say John "Jane" Smith?  I love the priorities.

[tekla]

I never used my students first names, I didn't want to be that familiar with them.  So they had a choice of Mr or Ms, or if they really wanted, Mrs.

[Chamillion]

I am just posting in this thread to represent for UMASS BOSTON.  Hell yeah.  (yes I'm aware the article is about Amherst)