Buzzwords of the Campus Take Over Public Life

In recent years, a new set of buzzwords have become increasingly popular on college campuses across the country. Diversity, inclusion, microaggression, power differential, white privilege and group safety are all terms that are being used to describe the current state of our society. While these words may be confusing to many on campus, they have now become noxious off campus as well. The use of these buzzwords has created an atmosphere in which people feel more comfortable discussing issues related to race and social justice. This has led to an increase in dialogue about how different groups can work together to create a more equitable society. However, it has also caused some tension between those who embrace these concepts and those who don’t understand them or disagree with them. Some argue that using such terms is divisive and only serves to further polarize people into two camps—those who accept them and those who reject them. Others believe that using such language is necessary in order for us to have meaningful conversations about important topics like racism and inequality. Regardless of one’s opinion on the matter, it is clear that these buzzwords have become part of our public discourse. As such, it is important for everyone—both on campus and off—to understand what they mean so we can better engage in productive conversations about how we can make our society more inclusive for all its members.