A British university has asked its staff to use “winter break” instead of “Christmas vacation” to be more inclusive.
Newcastle University made the request as part of a 20-page inclusive language guide, Great Britain News reported on Thursday.
A Newcastle University spokesman told the outlet: “We have renamed the breaks to reflect the seasons and be more inclusive of our diverse community of students and staff.”
Toby Young, founder of the UK-based Free Speech Union, condemned the decision, telling GBN: “Newcastle University needs to be reminded that Britain is still a Christian country and we still celebrate Christian festivals. Does inclusion not apply to Christians?”
But the guide aims to advance the notion that “non-religious terms should be adopted to better reflect their diverse community of students and staff,” GBN reported.
This isn’t Newcastle University’s first controversy regarding inclusive language.
“In August, the university sparked outrage when it asked employees to avoid ‘patronising and gendered terms such as girls, pet or ladies,'” the Sun reported.
There have been similar debates at universities in the United States over the years as well.
Most famously, in 2015, the University of Tennessee’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion warned employees to be careful to “ensure your holiday party is not a Christmas party in disguise.”
But there are many additional recent examples:
2023: Campus chaplain’s email for Christmas service avoids word ‘Christmas’
2022: University: Don’t say ‘Christmas’ because it’s too ‘Christian-centric’
2021: Emory University fraternity faces discipline for hanging Christmas wreath on door
MORE: 88% of college students say it’s NOT offensive to wish ‘Merry Christmas’
IMAGE: L Stock Studio / Shutterstock
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