<p>I applied ED to Gallatin, so (hopefully) I will be going to NYU next year. But I'm just wondering what the attitude among students about political correctness is. Are students hyper-PC? Because I'm not. At all. And it bothers me some when people are overly aware. Basically I just would like to know what some of your experiences have been on campus regarding political correctness and "sensitivity" and such.</p>
<p>Define "PC" and "sensitivity."</p>
<p>If "PC" means "language that artfully obscures realities that the speaker just doesn't want to deal with," then I think you'll be alright. People here are generally frank, like you.</p>
<p>However, if "PC" means "I'll say whatever I want with no regard for other people's background and identity," then you'll be getting on people's bad sides fast. Since we have a fairly diverse population, one student's experience and opinions simply cannot represent everyone else's. Respect other people's differences.</p>
<p>If you could be more specific, then I'd be able to do the same. :)</p>
<p>Just little things, really. Like at NYU is it offensive to call someone "black" instead of "African American," or "American Indian" instead of "Native American," "Latin" instead of "Hispanic," "gay" instead of "homosexual?" Little things like that. Mostly I guess it just bothers me when people feel like they have to go out of their way to accomodate and acknowledge different races and orientations, treat people differently. This is kind of dumb, but I think a good litmus test is whether people find Sarah Silverman's comedy routine funny or offensive. Where would most of NYU stand? Or is it too diverse to say? Also just because I'm curious, it is offensive to call the gay ("homosexual") neighborhood in a city the "gayborhood."</p>
<p>And as long as I'm posting a topic, are people at NYU hostile towards Christians? Because I've heard from a friend (who happens to be agnostic) that the student body is quite antagonistic of Christianity. I'm a Christian, but it's definately a private thing for me. I'm not evangelical at all and prefer not to discuss religion. But would people think it's weird if I went to church on Sundays? Because faith is something that's important to me. Sorry for such a long post, but these are genuine questions I have.</p>
<p>We aren't PC at all.</p>
<p>Yes, people will find it strange that you would be a church-attending Christian. That is (almost) unheard of at NYU. But, reasonably intelligent people SHOULD be willing to accommodate you, though. Unfortunately, I have found that very many people at NYU are completely monolithic in their socio-political views and almost unwilling to believe that there are legitimate alternatives.</p>
<p>There was a thread about Christianity on campus a few weeks/months ago. Search for it to see what people said.</p>
<p>Regarding your terminology... forget the "either/or" mentality. None of the words have the same denotation.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Some people identify as black, others as African-American. Still others consider themselves Americans of African descent. These terms have different cultural, social, and political meanings.</p></li>
<li><p>I know little about "American Indian" versus "Native American". However, I use Native American simply because the indigenous peoples of the Americas are in no way related to people from the nation of India. That's an antiquated, colonial idea.</p></li>
<li><p>I believe there is a difference between "Latino" and "Hispanic", but I don't know what it is. "Latin," to me, means something from the Roman Empire, so I don't know about that. Calling someone Latin is probably going to get you strange looks around here.</p></li>
<li><p>There is a difference between "gay" and "homosexual." Homosexual is generally a clinical term relating to same-gender (male or female) attractions or relationships. Gay generally relates to male homosexuality, but at times the word has been applied to the entire lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community as an umbrella term. In addition, non-white homosexual men may not consider themselves "gay" because "gay" can be seen as a middle-upper-class, white male "thing."</p></li>
</ul>
<p>This may be considered "PC" by some, but I certainly don't think so. Let me draw an analogy between these terms and distinctions and the English language. No one with English fluency would argue that the words "scream," "cry," and "shriek" all mean the same thing. So, then, no one with American cultural fluency would argue that "American Indian" and "Native American," for example, have the same meaning.</p>
<p>Did my schpeal make sense? :)</p>
<p>Ha. Nothing like that here. My roommate constantly uses racial slurs. Amazing that in this day and age people, especially college students, use words like that.</p>
<p>If it's any insight-My son (Jewish & straight) has a gay Jewish roommate and another roommate whose father is a pastor and who is quite religious. The three of them get along great- are friends and do things together as well as with others. They are freshmen in a small triple.</p>
<p>Thanks for the edit. Whatever happened to free speech?</p>
<p>What's wrong with using the term "White" or "Black?</p>
<p>I posted some of the racial slurs my roommate uses...and believe me, they're far worse than "white" or "black", hence their being edited out.</p>
<p>"Like at NYU is it offensive to call someone "black" instead of "African American," </p>
<p>Wonder what they call someone for example who happens to be from Nigeria and is not an American and has dark skin color?</p>
<p>I hate it when people are refered to african americans, asian americans, mexican americans etc...Everybody says its politically correct but its not, because you dont know if someone is a citizen or not.</p>
<p>Thanks. I was just curious because at my high school people really do freak out if someone is referred to as "black" or "white" or "gay" or something seemingly normal. It's so dumb and I'm glad to hear that NYU is not that way.</p>
<p>BIGTWIX, why should we American citizens assume that any Caucasian person we see walking down the street is an American? Why limit our suspicions to people of non-European descent?</p>
<p>because the typical "American" is a WASP</p>
<p>or at least the traditional image of one</p>
<p>im sayin
that people who correct people for saying someone is black, asian, hispanic, mexican etc, are not always "politically correct" cause,
in many many instances, in california especially (I live in california)
people ge corrected for calling mexicans mexicans, rather than hispanic americans
or calling asians asians
rather than asian americans
but in reality
There are more mexicans in california that arent citizens than are (in california)</p>
<p>and
theres a very small minority of non citizen asians here.
but for the most part they are.</p>