By: Jaime Hahn
Political correctness doesn’t take a break from campus just because classes move online–in fact, it might get worse.
We all know academics live in a bubble of political correctness and expect students to follow suit. When classes at Kennesaw State University moved online for the remainder of the semester due to the Wuhan Virus, it was pretty evident that a topic across discussion posts in every department and online meetings with professors would be littered with talk of the virus.
As expected, this topic came up in an online meeting with one of my professors for my capstone course. When I stated that some of my research had to be modified due to the “Wuhan Virus,” my professor interrupted me to correct my use of the term with her insertion of “coronavirus.”
It’s ridiculous that our professors – who are supposed to be examples to us of adults in the professional world – would interrupt someone from saying something accurate just because they don’t prefer that term. Interrupting is not something a professor would tolerate from a student if roles were reversed, and it is disrespectful of them to do so.
Professors have taken to looking at everything we do from the lens of political correctness. From papers, to discussion posts, to in-person conversations, students have to make sure that everything we say it going to be appropriate to the professor’s subjective ideologies. In the supposed marketplace of ideas, students should be allowed to express ideas without interruption, especially from professors, or fear of grades being impacted as a result.
So, to everyone in online classes, call this disease the Coronavirus, Covid-19, Wuhan Virus, or Chinese Virus. All are correct, even if they aren’t politically correct, and you should not be admonished for it.
Jaime Hahn is a senior at Kennesaw State University, and former chairman of the KSU Young Americans for Freedom chapter.
