STANFORD, Calif. — From the internet to the national media to the holiday dinner table, much of the country has seemed to be up in arms in recent weeks over a newly discovered Stanford University “language guide” that discourages the use of words like “American,” “survivor” and “freshman” — steps too far for many jaded by the culture wars.
At a time when politicians and the media continue their ongoing debate over critical race theory, LGBTQ discussions in schools and other cultural issues, liberals and conservatives appear to be on the same page about one thing: This Stanford “language guide” goes too far.
Written by the Elimination of Harmful Language Initiative at Stanford in partnership with People of Color in Technology and the Stanford CIO Council, the “language guide” is part of a multiphase, multiyear project that addresses harmful language — in information technology (IT) uses only — at the university. Its goal is to “eliminate many forms of harmful language, including racist, violent and biased language … in Stanford websites and code.”
