ASU Students Think “Walk-Only Zones” are “Microaggression” to Disabled People
ASU Students Think “Walk-Only Zones” are “Microaggression” to Disabled People
Pedestrian crosswalks called “Walk-Only Zones” on Arizona State University’s campus may be renamed because students find their description to be a form of “micro-aggression.”
The allegedly oppressive name, students claim, is discriminatory towards those who are disabled.
From Campus Reform:
“I was on crutches for 5 weeks and felt uncomfortable when seeing this sign,” James Qian, of Tempe, Ariz., wrote on the petition.
“This is necessary. Oppressive language is a microagression [sic] that needs to be addressed and is often forgotten about,” signee Victoria Jackson, also of Tempe, Ariz., wrote. “Word choice is one of the easiest things to change and often one of the most powerful.”
According to a poster circulating ASU’s campus and obtained by Campus Reform, “not everyone at ASU can walk, so WHY use the lingo ‘Walk Only’?”
“We don’t like creepy people policing our bodies on the way to class either…,” the poster reads.
The intent behind the name “Walk-Only Zone” seems to be misinterpreted by these college students. According the the school’s website, the areas are meant to “enhance pedestrian safety” and “ease vehicle congestion.” Wheeled vehicles are banned from the zones during enforcement periods.
Students have created a petition to have the name of the zones changed to a more “inclusive” alternative. A few weeks after it was initially created the petition still has barely 50 signatures.
It looks like this fight may not have enough support to actually make the name change.