The Independent and The Times reported that the student union officers advised the Oxford University students to use gender neutral nouns, like “ze” instead of “he” or “she”, to refer each other.
The Times based its claim on a leaflet allegedly distributed by the student union.
However, the Oxford University Student Union refused the claim with a statement on their official website. In the statement they said “We have not produced a leaflet implying that all students must use 'ze' pronouns to refer to others, or indeed to themselves. We believe the resources which are referred to within many of the articles could be support materials used by our student leaders and welfare representatives , which alongside other information and tips, reminds individuals of the importance of not assuming the pronouns in introductions.”
They also stated that they “would never tell anyone to sue ‘ze’ pronouns instead of ‘he’ or ‘she’, if he or she is the pronoun someone wishes to use.”
After the Union’s statement The Independent corrected their story in another article.
