Date: Mon, 20 Nov 1995 11:17:44 -0500
From: Wayne Glowka wglowka[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]MAIL.GAC.PEACHNET.EDU
Subject: Re: PC Language
Unfortunately, I have no conclusive academic answer,
but I can say from experience that on my campus
the most regular users of PC language (with
serious intent) are administrators in the
Campus Housing department.
Buzzwords like "diversity," "multi-culturalism,"
and many, many others never saw the light of
day on this campus until Housing used them in
promotional materials around 1990-91.
I don't really know the significance of
Campus Housing's role in revisionism,
but I do know that ever since, PC language
has been adopted by almost the entire
administration.
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;Kathleen M. O'Neill
Come to think of it, much of the PC activity (multiculturalism, globalism,
etc.) on our campus comes from the Student Activities Office. The housing
folks have long been into euphemism/revisionism. We can't call the dorms
anything but "residence halls." The housing director is "director of
resident life." On a related issue, we no longer have PE classes: we have
classes in "wellness." Speaking of wellness, I am going to the doctor
today for an annual check-up: our insurance program will completely cover
this examination under a "wellness benefit."
An interesting note on campus revisionism: Recently "Procurement" was
changed to "Purchasing" to avoid unsavory associations with prostitution.
Wayne Glowka
Professor of English
Director of Research and Graduate Student Services
Georgia College
Milledgeville, GA 31061
912-453-4222
wglowka[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]mail.gac.peachnet.edu