The College Fix

Oxford University faculty are slated to vote on whether to change the Latin of its 800-year-old degree ceremony to appease non-binary grads.

“The university has conferred its degrees in Latin since the 12th century, but the wording used could be changed to make it more inclusive,” the Telegraph reported. “Dons will vote on a proposal to change the Latin ceremonial text to cater to those ‘who identify as non-binary.'”

Some support the proposal, arguing Latin, as a liturgical and academic language, has evolved over time while retaining its gendered grammar.

“If the Oxford dons vote for the change, the ceremony will no longer use masculine words for both male and female students — magistri (masters) and doctores (doctors). Instead, the neutral term vos (you) will be used. The new Latin will then identify those who are non-binary, as well as those who identify as male and female,” wrote Harry Mount in UnHerd, a British free inquiry publication.

“I studied classics at Oxford, but I don’t mind this change to ancient tradition. Despite being a supposedly dead language, Latin can clearly change with the times. Even then, the masculine plural has always been used to cover a mixed-gender group.”

The proposed changes will be voted on by the university’s governing body on April 29, according to the European Conservative. Another Latin term for “who” would be rewritten to avoid “any suggestion of grammatical gender,” under the proposal, it reported.

“Oxford insists the overhaul is ‘necessary so that the Latin used can refer to those who identify as non-binary as well as those who identify as male and female.’ It also claims it is merely aligning itself with UK legal requirements for higher education,” the Conservative reported.

But historian Dominic Selwood reportedly “slammed the revised language as ‘devoid of any elegance, atmosphere, beauty or tradition,’ pointing out that what Oxford stands to lose far outweighs any potential gain.”

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