{"id":25368,"date":"2015-12-04T01:57:27","date_gmt":"2015-12-04T06:57:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/?p=25368"},"modified":"2015-12-04T02:40:35","modified_gmt":"2015-12-04T07:40:35","slug":"public-university-tells-campus-ensure-holiday-party-not-christmas-party-disguise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/public-university-tells-campus-ensure-holiday-party-not-christmas-party-disguise\/","title":{"rendered":"Public university tells campus: ‘Ensure your holiday party is not a Christmas party in disguise’"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

One admonishment among many holiday\u00a0dictums laid out by University of Tennessee diversity office\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Some Republican state legislators call for UT-Knoxville chancellor to resign over directives\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

A list<\/a> of holiday “best practices” developed over the last year by the University of Tennessee’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion offers a parade of Christmastime no-nos, including that holiday parties should not have Secret Santa-themed gift exchanges and the campus community should be careful to\u00a0“ensure your holiday party is not a Christmas party in disguise.”<\/p>\n

“Holiday parties and celebrations should not play games with religious and cultural themes,” the diversity office advised the campus community. “For example, ‘Dreidel’ or ‘Secret Santa.’ If you want to exchange gifts, then refer to it in a general way, such as a practical joke gift exchange or secret gift exchange.”<\/p>\n

An additional dictum on the list, titled “Best Practices for Inclusive Holiday Celebrations in the Workplace,” includes the admonishment that\u00a0“holiday parties and celebrations should celebrate and build upon workplace relationships and team morale with no emphasis on religion or culture.”<\/p>\n

Lili\u2019a Uili Neville, communications director of the Office for Diversity and Inclusion, told The College Fix<\/em>\u00a0via email earlier this week that the best practices list \u201cwas developed because we are a diverse community with students, faculty, and staff from various religious and faith traditions. It is part of our overall educational effort to provide inclusive practical resources for the campus community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Neville also stated\u00a0the list is not a policy of the University of Tennessee, merely advice to make\u00a0holiday parties more inclusive.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe university does not have an official policy regarding religious and cultural decor or celebration in the workplace. However, we are fully committed to a diverse, welcoming, and inclusive environment,\u201d Neville said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one can \u2018get in trouble\u2019 if they choose not to use these best practices. They are an online resource for faculty and staff to review if they are interested in creating a more inclusive holiday environment within their departments and administrative units,\u201d Neville\u00a0added.<\/p>\n

The list also cautions against other potentially damaging holiday practices, such as sending holiday cards or serving refreshments that are specific to any religion or culture.<\/p>\n

The recommendations have upset some, reported Todd Starnes of Fox News<\/em><\/a> on Thursday.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe people I represent are disgusted by this,\u201d Rep. John Duncan, (R-Tenn.), told Starnes.\u00a0\u201cPeople from all over the country are sick and tired of all this political correctness.\u201d<\/p>\n

And Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey\u00a0told Fox News<\/em>:\u00a0\u201cWhile the advisory makes clear it is not university policy, these \u2018suggestions\u2019 call into question what purpose university offices of diversity serve.”<\/p>\n

The Knoxville News Sentinel<\/em> reports<\/a> that Republican state legislators — Senate Education Committee Chairman Dolores Gresham and Senate Government Operations Committee Chairman Mike Bell — are calling for University of Tennessee at Knoxville Chancellor Jimmy Cheek to resign.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Office of Diversity is not welcoming to all and hostile to none as they claim,\u201d Sen. Gresham stated in a letter. \u201cThey are very hostile to students and other Tennesseans with Christian and conservative values. By placing a virtual religious test regarding holiday events at this campus, every student who is a Christian is penalized.\u201d<\/p>\n

UTK\u2019s Office for Diversity and Inclusion has published numerous other controversial resources and suggestions for the campus community, most recently imploring<\/a> students, faculty and staff to use \u201cgender neutral pronouns\u201d such as \u201cze, xe, xem, xyr, zirs and hirs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Like The College Fix<\/em> on Facebook<\/a> \/ Follow us on Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n

IMAGE: Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n