Stanford University recently published a guide to harmful language. It included a long list of terms/phrases which it considered to be problematic or anti-inclusionary. and therefore unacceptable. On this list were standard words and phrases such as: ‘master’; ‘white paper’; ‘war room’; and ‘circling the wagons’. To give Stanford its due, it has responded to the ensuing barage of criticism by backing down and admitting that this initiative had missed its mark. This is a good example of how important it is to continue to expose CSJ-driven authoritarian speech-codes to public ridicule and criticism.

‘ Facing mockery, ridicule and widespread internal and external criticism, Stanford University finally took down its Elimination of Harmful Language Initiative (EHLI) website this week. The move is the latest in an unfolding saga that’s thrust Stanford into the spotlight on campus free speech controversies.’ For the rest of the Forbes article see here.