According to UK
media reports, the use of capital letters has been banned as well as the
“overuse” of the words “do” and “don’t”.
In an internal staff memo obtained by the Express, staff are told students’ “anxiety” can lead to academic failure.
“Despite
our best attempts to explain assessment tasks, any lack of clarity can
generate anxiety and even discourage students from attempting the
assessment at all,” it reads.
“Generally, avoid using capital letters for emphasis and the overuse of ‘do’, and, especially, ‘DON’T’.
It
also urged staff to be “explicit about any inexplicitness” in
assignment requirements and to be aware that “misconceptions or
misunderstandings quickly spread” among students.
“This can lead
to further confusion and students may even then decide that the
assessment is too difficult and not attempt it,” the statement reads.
The
story quickly spread across the UK media as well as on social media,
with many members of the public slamming it as extreme “political
correctness” pandering to the “snowflake generation.”
It follows
similar news in September, when The University of Manchester’s student
union made global headlines after voting to ban clapping and cheering at
certain events in order to avoid triggering those with anxiety or
sensory issues.
Instead, students were urged to use “jazz hands”.
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