International Pronouns Day
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University has a great mix of people with different life experiences, who bring a wide range of perspectives to our school, the veterinary profession, and the One Health community. Acknowledgement of correct pronoun use is an important way to demonstrate respect for one another by identifying and referring to someone according to their wishes. Adopting a consistent use of pronouns and neopronouns shows acceptance and respect for all. Individuals who willingly share their pronouns are more easily recognized as allies.
The increased use and acknowledgement of pronouns at Cummings School started in 2020 with a group of students. Student members of Pride Student Veterinary Medical Community (PrideSVMC) and Tufts Veterinary Council on Diversity (TVCD) collaborated with faculty advisors and the administration – including the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Climate – to create pronoun pins and pronoun decals to allow us all to easily communicate our gender identities. In 2021, adding pronouns to name badges became an option for students on clinical rotations. This past summer, TVCD created a guide for adding your pronouns to your Tufts accounts.
We espouse sustainable culture, which includes diversity and inclusive excellence, among the four core goals in the 2030 strategic vision. You will see voluntary sharing of pronouns in our email signatures, online profiles, school communications, and in our many stories that are published in print or online.
Cummings School has joined more than 260 organizations and hundreds of individuals to sign the Gender Identity Bill of Rights for the Veterinary Profession, sponsored by PrideVMC, the LGBTQ+ Veterinary Medical Community. Signatories accept the statement as a foundation to identify and eliminate discriminatory practices against transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals in the veterinary profession. Furthermore, signatories collectively adopt the statement of how the veterinary profession should conduct itself regarding gender diversity.
By taking these measures and continually seeking other avenues of inclusiveness, Cummings School declares its commitment to the creation and maintenance of a safe and welcoming environment for every person to be respected for who they are. This is only one of many steps to practice inclusive excellence, but it is an important step. Showing respect, support, and appreciation for every individual is our vision. Using a person’s correct pronouns is an important part of validating their identity and their ability to feel connected, supported, and accepted in our community.
We welcome you to join us in celebrating and recognizing International Pronouns Day on October 18, 2023.
Alastair Cribb, he/him/his
Dean
Flo Tseng, she/her/hers
Associate Dean, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Climate