Merit aid at Smith (and a few general questions)

recent_alumna
Mon, 01 Aug 2005 14:30:47 +0000

wow, okay. i’m an infrequent browser of this board, but this thread made me want to respond on the topic of “political correctness.” i graduated from smith in may, and what i learned while i was there was NOT that “[political correctness is] the practice of never saying or doing anything that could be considered remotely offensive to any person or group.” what i found instead is that people tend to express an aversion to political correctness when they want carte blanche to say inappropriate (e.g. racist, classist, homophobic) things. i think tolerance, respect, and integrity in language and behavior is what smith encourages, and if that makes you uncomfortable, all to the good! it means you’re learning.

one thing i emerged from smith sick of was not political correctness, but intolerance in the guise of being well-meaning.