Trinity College Is Changing The Word ‘Freshman’ To A Gender Neutral Term

Trinity College has announced plans to phase out the word ‘freshman’ and replace it with the gender-neutral term ‘fresh’. 

The move was announced in an e-mail to staff and students today and follows a proposal from the university’s Equality Committee.

At the moment, first and second year students are referred to as junior and senior freshmen. 

“This small but important change will ensure that all Trinity students are equally included by the language used to describe them, be they male, female or of another gender identity,” the e-mail read. 

“[…] As we approach 100 years of women’s suffrage in Ireland in 2018, it is timely to reflect on changes in our student body since “Freshman” first came into use, and to ensure those changes are reflected in the name we give them.”

The change will be phased in over the next three years in an effect to make it “cost neutral with minimal disruption”. 

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