Inclusive Language at EMU

Eastern Mennonite University strives to create and sustain an inclusive, supportive, safe, and nondiscriminatory community for all students, staff, and faculty, an expression of our Anabaptist values. This value is supported in the intention of our EMU Vision (We will open new pathways of access and achievement for all students…), Strategic Plan to Diversify (Reimagine support processes for a student population that is more diverse across multiple dimensions) and policies to support student across sex, gender identity and sexual orientation (LGBTQIA+ Student Support Policy, Inclusive Community-Creating Policy).

Living into these values and policies with practices, our campus community will broaden welcome and support to gender inclusive language in the following ways:

EMU will update the collection of biographical data on institutional documents to include gender identity and pronouns, in addition to the already collected gender for reporting (recognizing that the options mandated for reporting are not comprehensive of all genders). The collection of gender identity, gender for reporting, and pronouns is optional and will not be used in admissions, conduct or academic review decisions. EMU's use of 'gender for reporting' data to meet external reporting requirements never results in the release of individualized information (i.e., your responses are never released to the public). Further, ‘gender identity’ is never released to external organizations or publicly. If you have any questions about how your responses are used, feel free to email institutionalresearch@emu.edu.
All members of the EMU community strive to/are expected to use appropriate names and pronouns indicated by each individual, normalizing its use in practice and the development of inclusive space for people of all genders

Your campus name and pronouns are directory information. Federal law (FERPA) allows this information to be excluded from any public listings upon a students’ request but it will always be visible in a limited fashion on campus, especially to EMU employees.

Your 'gender identity' and 'gender for reporting' responses are biographical information that will be visible to a limited set of EMU employees. Your 'gender for reporting' response is used in EMU's required reporting and also for overall (non-individual) reports such as the EMU fact book. Both 'gender identity' and 'gender for reporting' may be used to help us study discrimination/equity issues.

All members of the EMU community strive to/are expected to follow these five practices in their campus interactions:

When introducing yourself, include your pronouns. Additions to your syllabus/meeting, email signature (EMU signature generator here!), business cards and res hall/office door are also helpful.
Don’t make assumptions about the gender or sexual orientation of others. Invite opportunities for others to provide this information at their comfort.
Connect yourself to resources around LGBTQIA+ related questions. (See Resource List below) Seeking the answer yourself before asking a member of that community supports your education and their wellbeing.
Avoid using gender binary language like ‘ladies and gentleman’, ‘boys and girls.’ Instead, use language like everybody or folks.
Remember that we are a caring learning community. Allow space for members of our community to learn self and give grace as we learn with each other.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are pronouns and campus names?
- Pronouns: In a variety of languages, we often use gender-implied pronouns to refer to individuals in third person. We also sometimes make assumptions about their gender identities and pronouns. These assumptions can be very harmful and create oppressive environments, especially for transgender, nonbinary, genderqueer, and gender nonconforming individuals; in contrast, using the correct pronouns and campus name for our fellow Royals (and in our other communities) is a way of showing respect, care, and helps build an inclusive community.
- Campus name: EMU recognizes that as a community many of its members use names other than their legal names to identify themselves. As long as the use of this different name is not for the purposes of misrepresentation, EMU will make every effort to use a student’s Campus Name.
How can I update my pronouns on my ID card and in the EMU directory?
To update your ID card to include your pronouns, visit or contact Help Desk at helpdesk@emu.edu or 540-432-4357
- Faculty & Staff - Update Employee Info. EMU Advancement will review changes before the new information is published.
- Students - Update Student Info. The Registrar will review the change before the new information is published.
- Prospective Students - Contact your admissions counselor about making the changes.
How do I share my own pronouns? How do I ask for pronouns?

It is good practice to incorporate your pronouns into your introduction to new people: ‘Hi, my name is ____ and I use ____ pronouns.’ You can ask others ‘what pronouns do you use?’

It is helpful to to remember that for some people, sharing pronouns is basically outing themselves as trans or nonbinary, and not everyone will be ready. It’s helpful to find ways that don’t add pressure to this invitation. Offering written ways to share pronouns or saying to a group “introduce yourself with your pronouns if you feel comfortable doing so” are examples of low pressure invitations.
If I go by the pronouns that match my sex, why should I share my pronouns?

Even if your gender identity matches your sex assigned at birth (cisgender), sharing your own pronouns is an important step to cultivate an inclusive and welcoming environment. By sharing your pronouns, you create a safer space for other individuals to feel comfortable to do the same. It is one way to signify that you are striving to create safe spaces, are committed to being affirming, and will not make assumptions about gender identity, pronouns, and sexual orientation.
I keep messing up someone’s pronouns, what do I do?

Mistakes are ok. The best thing to do if you use the wrong pronouns for someone is to immediately respond with recognition of your mistake with a statement like “Sorry, I meant (insert pronoun). Apologize, note the correct pronoun for future engagement and move on. Lingering on your mistake may make the person you misgendered feel awkward and responsible for comforting you, which is not their job.

Other scenarios and strategies to help repair mistakes.
Who can I talk to about support as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community?

Members of the LGBTQIA+ community are supported through the Multicultural Student Services Office in Student Life. Support, resources, advocacy and celebration are available through staff and programming. Additionally, EMU Safe Space is a student-led club dedicated to affirming space for people of all gender, romantic, and sexual identities.

Questions about the LGBTQIA+ community at EMU? Email safespace@emu.edu
How do I report instances of discrimination, bias, or harassment?
While EMU is invested in protecting freedom of speech, academic freedom, and the widest, possible dialogue in the classroom and research, Eastern Mennonite University does not condone acts of discrimination towards individuals or groups based on the following classifications listed below:

race, gender, religion, ability, sexual orientation, perceived gender, gender identity, expression, ethnicity/national origin, age, ancestry, color, marital or family status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, physical or mental disability, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, creed, military or veteran status, club affiliation, organizational membership, or perceived political ideas

All university-enrolled students, parents of students, and visitors located on property-owned, leased, or otherwise controlled by Eastern Mennonite University are expected to comply with the Bias Response Policy. Members of the university community are encouraged to report incidents of bias in any of the following ways:

Campus Safety Incident Report: https://emu.edu/safecampus/

Other ways to report:
- Director of Multicultural Student Services: 540-432-4458
- Director of Residence Life, Student Accountability, and Restorative Justice: 540-432-4128
- Campus Safety and Security: 540-432-4911
- Residence Director on Duty: 540-476-4578
- Title IX coordinator: 540-432-4849 or titleixcoordinator@emu.edu
- Harrisonburg Police Department: 911

Resources

Resources for Students

Resources for Faculty and Staff

LGBTQIA+ Inclusion Guide for Faculty and Staff (JMU)