Lawrence KilliumStudents who clap, whoop, or cheer events will have to watch themselves or face serious “consequences” because the aren’t being sensitive to the feelings of deaf people.
I wish I was kidding.
Estelle Hart, a committee member for the National Union of Students reportedly told the audience: “No whooping, it does have a serious impact on some delegates ability to access conference.”
The NUS claims that when students show their support for speakers in the traditional way, it deaf people are excluded. They have a way to save the day and make conferences an enjoyable experience for everyone, though: Jazz hands.
Taking it a step further, the Durham University student union then proposed a motion at the conference that would ban clapping and whooping at all future NUS events.
According to the proposal, the “access needs of disabled students are disregarded/overlooked in terms of conference member behaviour and NUS structures” and that all of that oppression could compromise the “safety and wellbeing” of those disabled students.
They demanded that there be “reduced cheering or unnecessary loud noises on conference floor, including whooping and clapping” and said that there would “be consequences for those who ignore this requirement.”
Are you kidding me? These damn snowflakes are so ready to take offense at anything that they’re attacking people who are showing support for a speaker? How do these people live their lives?
I’m surprised their solution wasn’t to be a bunch of keyboard warriors by creating a Twitter firestorm with a catchy hashtag that shamed those damn enthusiastic students so they could show them what bigots they were being.
Unfortunately, this kind of behavior is becoming common in universities.
According to The Telegraph:
Last week it emerged that Oxford University’s Equality and Diversity Unit issued guidance to students advising them that students who avoid making eye contact with their peers could be guilty of racism.
Eye contact is racism?! You have got to be kidding me! Are we supposed to just stare at our shoes all day, or would we be accused of being classist and insensitive towards those who can’t afford shoes?
The University of Glasgow started issuing “trigger warnings” for theology students studying the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, whereby students are told they may see distressing images and are given the opportunity to leave.
Boy, Christmas and Easter must be hell for these kids…
When the NUS was asked why they chose “jazz hands” as the approved method of showing approval, a spokesperson said: “The hand gesture used [during the conference] is the sign used in the British Sign Language vocabulary for applause. It means more people can participate in our conference.”
So I have a couple questions. First off, who exactly was complaining? If deaf students are able to look around and see people clapping, wouldn’t that mean they’re not excluded? Wouldn’t clapping actually be more inclusive jazz hands because deaf people can see it and blind people can hear it?
NUS, why are you trying to exclude the blind?
H/T: The Telegraph
