Students can now alter their pronouns in Canvas

From now on, students can alter their pronouns in Canvas. This was announced by Ellen van Schoten vice-president of the Executive Board, on Tuesday afternoon during the opening of the rainbow path on the Institutenlaan. The educational software Canvas provides instructions on how students can indicate whether they want to be addressed as he, she or they, for example.

“We would like to make a statement that we are an inclusive university,” said Van Schoten. “Because for a part of our community, it is important to be able to indicate how they want to be called and how they identify themselves,” she continued. “With this, we send a signal that everyone is welcome and that you can be just who you are.”

Happy

MISOC student and president of Erasmus Pride Zofia Staszewska is very happy about the change. “Students use Canvas every day, so it’s nice that your pronoun is visible there too. It will also now be easier for everyone to take someone’s preferences into account.”

Business administration student Stephan van Roon agrees. He sees that some students struggle with their pronoun and are very keen to change it in Canvas and Osiris. “They are often addressed with the wrong pronoun by teachers and tutors, for instance. I hope this adjustment can prevent that.” Zofia: “It will also be easier for those who use a different pronoun than their sex. So they don’t have to correct people every time.”