Choose a Better Word

The Choose a Better Word…
For more information contact
Stephanie G. Martinez
University of South Florida
(813) 974-2301
smartinez5@mail.usf.edu

For release after 10 a.m.
Tuesday, March 26

CHOOSE A BETTER WORD CAMPAIGN AT USF

The Choose a Better Word campaign, an event that seeks to educate students about the prejudices surrounding certain terms, will be hosted by the Department of Housing and Residential Education on March 27.

Jesse Owens, a Resident Assistant and coordinator for the campaign said the best way to understand a certain ethnic or social group is to learn a little bit more about them. “This campaign [will] spread education and awareness about equality,” Owens said. He, along with other members of the department, will be present at the event to answer questions about the campaign and what it means to choose a better word.

Along with spreading awareness, the goal of the campaign is to explain to students why using some words can be considered derogatory. “Describing something as being “gay” when you actually mean it’s “lame” is offensive and people need to learn to say things differently”, said Brenna Wenger, a sophomore and Resident Assistant aiding in the event.

The staff members of the department are expecting the event to yield a large outcome and an even larger impact in the USF community and beyond.

The Department of Housing and Residential Education office can be found in the Argos Center on the northeastern side of the USF campus. For any questions or more information about events like Choose a Better Word you can visit their website at www.housing.usf.edu.