University students and organizations participated in Spread the Word to End the Word’s campaign to end the use of the word “retarded” Wednesday.
The University chapter of Best Buddies helped organize the event on Grounds. Spread the Word to End the Word is a national campaign which partners largely with Best Buddies and Special Olympics.
Victoria Marquis, treasurer of the Best Buddies chapter at the University and a second-year Engineering Student and, said the word “retarded” has come to be used in unacceptable ways.
“[It] started as a medical term, but it developed into an insult against people with intellectual disabilities, and it also began to be used as a synonym for ‘dumb’ or ‘stupid,’” Marquis said in an email statement. “None of these uses of the word are acceptable.”
Students were encouraged to sign Spread the Word to End the Word’s pledge, acknowledging their intentions to stop saying the ‘r-word’ and use inclusive and respectful language.
Maeve Curtin, Best Buddies vice president and second-year College student, said the core mission of Special Olympics and Best Buddies is to promote social inclusion and equal opportunity for people with intellectual developmental disabilities and physical disabilities.
The Best Buddies chapter at the University has participated in this campaign for the past two years, after returning to the University after a period of inactivity, Curtin said.
Curtin said the campaign is intended to make students more aware of the words they use.
“As a chapter at U.Va. we participate in this campaign to localize it, [and] to make college students realize that the words that they are using and other actions do have greater implications,” Curtin said.
Best Buddies tabled and used social media to organize the Pledge Day held on the Lawn Wednesday.
“We also encouraged our members to post on social media about why they are supporting the end of the r-word,” Marquis said.
Curtin said she felt the Pledge Day was a success because students were able to have good conversations about using the ‘r-word’.
“I definitely think that [the campaign] was successful and at the end of the day if you can educate one person, I think that you’re doing a good job,” Curtin said. “We were able to have so many different conversations and so many different individuals [showed support].”
Curtin said Best Buddies hopes to expand their involvement in the campaign in the future and incorporate more ways to reach out to and include community participants.
“We hope to see the campaign grow in [the future],” Curtin said. “I would love to see us engage some of our community members who participate in the program and bring them to Grounds, as it would help show our mission in action and have a greater impact.”
Marquis said she would like to see some additions to the Spread the Word to End the Word event in the future.
“We'd love to have a bigger event in the future at U.Va. [and] the possibilities are endless,” Marquis said. “I know chapters that have gotten an old car donated from a junkyard, and they have people smash it to represent ‘destroying the r-word.’ We could also invite guest speakers from Special Olympics to speak to students about how the ‘r-word’ hurts.”
Curtin said if people use certain language in a negative way, it will eventually translate to negative thoughts about people with disabilities.
“The idea is to replace the ‘r-word’ with this new framework of respect,” Curtin said.
Read More
Students have federal internship offers rescinded due to hiring freeze
By Nina Broderick | YesterdayUntil July 15, no presently vacant federal civilian positions may be filled, and no new positions may be created.
Man dies from self-inflicted gunshot wounds at the Rotunda
By Ford McCracken | YesterdayThe investigation is ongoing, and additional details are not available at this time.
Virginia primary elections feature contested race for Democratic Lt. Gov. candidate
By Nicolas Biernacki | 2 days agoEligible voters can find more information about early voting by consulting the City Department of Voter Registration & Elections website or the County Department of Elections website.
