{"id":42731,"date":"2018-03-08T00:27:12","date_gmt":"2018-03-08T05:27:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/?p=42731"},"modified":"2018-03-08T00:27:12","modified_gmt":"2018-03-08T05:27:12","slug":"georgia-tech-publishes-2-page-inclusivity-checklist-for-campus-events","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/georgia-tech-publishes-2-page-inclusivity-checklist-for-campus-events\/","title":{"rendered":"Georgia Tech publishes 2-page \u2018inclusivity checklist\u2019 for campus events"},"content":{"rendered":"

In an effort to promote diversity and inclusion at campus events, Georgia Tech\u2019s student government has created a 2-page \u201cInclusivity Checklist\u201d that offers some 45 different guidelines for campus organizations to consider when hosting events at the public university.<\/p>\n

Everything from toxic masculinity to slut shaming to not using chairs that are too small for overweight people to ensuring Muslims have a place to pray is on the \u201cinclusivity\u201d checklist.<\/p>\n

Created by the student government\u2019s Cultural and Diversity Affairs Committee, the document aims it focus at generating inclusion when it comes to the food, content and event planning involved in campus events.<\/p>\n

The two-page checklist<\/a> also offers suggestions on issues ranging from the utensils and seating provided at the event to the pronouns usage, such as providing preferred pronouns on name tags.<\/p>\n

Other advice includes how to use trigger warnings for sensitive content. More specifically, the checklist urges event organizers to \u201cavoid hypermasculinity,\u201d to consider their \u201cprivilege\u201d when determining content for events, and to be ready to fight back against offensive ideas that might be discussed at the event.<\/p>\n

\u201cIncorporate discussions and workshops about LGBTQIA topics into your meetings and programs,\u201d the checklist states. \u201cTake into account religious considerations. [For example, provide] space for Muslim students to pray if event is most of the day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Also advised? \u201cCheck if sponsors, vendors, etc. have positive stance on LGBTQIA inclusion\u201d and \u201cbe prepared to challenge homophobic\/ transphobic ideas and opinions during the event.\u201d<\/p>\n

A brief description included on the checklist asserts a number of students at Georgia Tech currently \u201cdo not feel welcome attending certain events which do not accommodate their needs\u201d and that the document aims to help fix that.<\/p>\n

\u201cConsidering the items on this list will help you to design events with all students in mind, and hopefully help to create a more united Georgia Tech,\u201d the checklist states.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unclear exactly when the checklist was created, but an article<\/a> published Feb. 27 on Georgia Tech\u2019s website describes it as being \u201crecently created.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two students listed as contacts on the document declined to comment to The College Fix<\/em> for this story. The Georgia Tech administration also declined The College Fix<\/em>\u2019s request for comment.<\/p>\n

The majority of guidelines included on the list pertain to the content of events and event logistics. For instance, the checklist states that campus organizations should \u201cavoid generalizations and sexist language.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAvoid hyper-masculinity: promoting or assuming a particular standard for \u2018manliness,\u2019\u201d the list adds.<\/p>\n

Additionally, event organizers are told to avoid jokes that may offend minorities and women and to \u201ctake your own privilege into account\u201d when it comes to choosing the content for an event. To do this, the checklist suggests inviting a diverse group of people to the event, teaming up with cultural organizations and discussing LGBT issues at events.<\/p>\n

\u201cBe prepared to challenge homophobic\/ transphobic ideas and opinions during the event,\u201d the checklist states.<\/p>\n

The \u201cinclusivity checklist\u201d also recommends that event planners carefully pick chairs that will provide inclusion for all. \u201cAre you taking into consideration body size and individual preferences in terms of seating options,\u201d the document asks.<\/p>\n

In the article published on Georgia Tech\u2019s website, Barry Johnson-Smith, one of the students listed as a contact on the checklist, said the items on the document are things that students typically don\u2019t learn about.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to make students more intentional in ensuring that everyone feels welcome,\u201d Johnson-Smith said. \u201cThey\u2019re simple guidelines, but we are not really taught about these things.\u201d<\/p>\n

MORE:\u00a0University guide takes on \u2018white fragility, white spaces, seeing white\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

IMAGE: Shutterstock<\/p>\n

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