NSU adopts name and pronoun policy

By Bryce Johnson1 •

Em Joseph, third-year student in the Clinical Psychology Psy.D. program, uses the pronouns they/ them/theirs. Joseph would often get nervous having to be the first one to say their pronouns in a group setting. “I can honestly say that I get a lot of nervousness on the first day of classes, having to be somebody who kind of sticks out,” Joseph said. “I mean, I like it sometimes, but it’s definitely hard with certain professors or certain situations where you have to say your pronouns because they’re different from the normal.” Now, with NSU’s new Preferred Name and Pronouns Policy, professors can already know students’ pronouns before classes start. The policy, which was introduced on Sept. 1, allows students, faculty and staff to update their names and pronouns on their SharkCards, emails, Canvas accounts and more. “NSU is not mandating that any individual affirm another’s gender identity, only that they demonstrate respect and politeness to those individuals who have selected a preferred name and/or pronouns by addressing them as such,” NSU President George Hanbury wrote in an official statement.

Bran Allen, first-year student in the
Ph.D. Clinical Psychology Program,
talks about the Preferred Name and
Pronouns Policy.

Preferred names and pronouns are updated on NSU’s Self-Service Banner, which can be accessed through SharkLink. Once people update their names and pronouns, the change will be shown within 24 hours. After 48 hours, people can go to SharkCard Services and receive a free updated SharkCard. Julian Orellana, third-year history and education major, received his new SharkCard shortly after he updated his preferred name and pronouns. “This is just a really good policy that they’ve implemented, and it actually provides a higher level of safety for people who do need this service instead of having to come up and say your chosen name or get deadnamed on accident,” Orellana said. “It’s just really easy to do it in a sort of silent way for the people who don’t feel as comfortable expressing themselves.” Ash Wismar, second-year student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program, who uses they/ them pronouns, is happy that the name on their registration can now be the name that they use. Wismar feels the policy is a step toward inclusion.“I don’t think that this policy is a substitution for when you introduce yourself with your preferred name to also include your pronouns,” Wismar said. “It’s a step in the right direction and definitely opens up the doors for more conversations about inclusivity and how to make people feel comfortable.” Bran Allen, first-year student also in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program, finds the policy beneficial as someone who uses the pronoun they/them/theirs. But Allen feels NSU has more work to do. “The bathrooms would probably be a really good step, making a gender-neutral restroom in each building. This is actually the first school that I’ve been to where that’s not a thing that’s already in place,” Allen said. “The most important thing is this is not where we stop, because it’s 2023 and Nova was behind, but it’s good that we’re making progress.” Joseph encourages students and professors to update their pronouns if they feel safe and comfortable with the change. “If you’re kind of in a place where it doesn’t feel safe, you could always change your name and leave your pronouns out if that kind of helps at all,” Joseph said. “I went by ‘Em’ before I started using they/them pronouns.”

For more information: Visit https://www.nova.edu/bedi/names-pronouns.html