S. 15 – 3 A Resolution Allowing Students to Select Gender Identity and Pronouns in all Tufts University Systems

WHEREAS the Tufts University Non-Discrimination Policy states: “Tufts prohibits discrimination against and harassment of any student, employee, applicant for employment, third party or community member because of race; color; national or ethnic origin; age; religion; disability; sex; sexual orientation; gender; gender identity and expression; including a transgender identity; genetics; veteran status; retaliation; and any other characteristic protected under applicable federal or state law”;1

WHEREAS Tufts prides itself on being included on Campus Pride’s yearly list of Top 25 LGBTQ-Friendly Colleges & Universities;2

WHEREAS currently on Tufts information entry systems, such as the Student Information System (SIS), students do not have an easily accessible way to change their gender identity;

WHEREAS Harvard University recently initiated a policy allowing students to choose their pronouns from a list that includes the ‘they series’ (they, them, theirs) and the ‘ze series’ (ze, zir, and zirs) among others;3

WHEREAS “so far, about 100 schools now allow students, and sometimes employees, to indicate a moniker other than their legal first name, according to the Consortium of Higher Education L.G.B.T Resource Professionals”;4 therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED that the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate urges the administration of Tufts University to allow all current students to select their gender identity in all Tufts University systems;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that SIS and other university systems include fields for students to include their pronouns;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Tufts University give all incoming students the ability to include their gender identity and pronouns upon acceptance and enrollment;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Tufts University provide clear and explicit instructions on how a student may change their name, gender identity, and pronouns in university systems;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the TCU Senate asserts that this is only one step in working toward a safe campus for all students at Tufts University.

Respectfully submitted by Parker Breza A19, Anna Del Castillo A18, Gauri Seth A17, Shai Slotky A17, and Brian Tesser A16 on November 1, 2015.