Source: Sonicfoundry.comBath University has come under fire for pandering to the ''snowflake generation''
Bath University, in Somerset, England, recently held an equality and diversity network meeting, where it was decided the phrase “as you know” should be banned from classes.
The phrase is often used in the following way: ''As you know, the French Revolution began in 1789.''
However, the results of the Uni's diversity meeting found that the phrase can make certain students feel “inadequate” and stupid if they actually don’t know what the professor is talking about.
During the meeting, a video called Why Is My Curriculum White? was screened which explored ideas of race and belonging on campus.
The clip also showed an unnamed student complaining about the phrase.
“Saying ‘as you know’ leads to self-doubt and makes things difficult to question,” the student can be heard saying in the clip.
The university’s student union race equality group co-chair Berenice Dalrymple is recorded as saying: “Some lecturers used commonly known references stating ‘as you know’, which could make students feel at fault for not knowing and make it difficult to engage with the course content.”
But while the decision was made in order to protect students, many have slammed the policy as an example of pandering to the “snowflake generation.”
@piersmorgan ... have you seen this!!!! #Good Grief!! The slide continues.... Bath University professors told to stop saying ‘as you know’ in case it ... https://t.co/QQvVS3DTWo via @YouTube
— Stephen Norris (@1_StephenNorris) July 15, 2018
Ridiculous
According to The Sun, critics of the decision include prominent former university lecturer and author Joanna Williams, who said most students were “far more sensible and would not freak out” if they heard the phrase.
“The assumption that students can’t cope with the common expression ‘as you know’ is ridiculous,” the publication reported her as saying.
Meanwhile, Oxford University vice-chancellor Professor Louise Richardson said that “snowflake” students needed to toughen up, in September last year.
“I’m sorry, but my job is not to make you feel comfortable. Education is not about being comfortable. In fact, I’m interested in making you uncomfortable. And if you don’t like his views, you challenge them,” she said at a summit.
“We must be robust in defending free speech against those who wish to constrain it, whether that be a government in a well-intentioned effort to prevent radicalisation, or students claiming a right not to be offended.
“There should be no such right in universities.”
