Michael Schramm

University of Michigan

He, she, they, ze -- take your pick, University of Michigan students. A new policy implemented by the school lets students choose their preferred pronouns and have them reflected on their class rosters.

"A designated pronoun is a pronoun an individual chooses to identify with and expects others to use when referencing them (i.e., he, she, him, his, ze, etc.)," the university wrote in a Sept. 27 email to student announcing the policy.

But not all support the new policy. The university's announcement sparked debate among students and the Twittersphere about whether the policy is necessary and appropriate, with one student, in particular, placing himself at the center of the controversy.



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Through Michigan's new system, Grant Strobl, a junior and chairman of the conservative student organization Young Americans for Freedom, changed his pronoun designation to "His Majesty" (and then tweeted about it), catching the attention of media outlets.

Strobl tells USA TODAY College that he doesn't believe words like "ze" and "they" are real pronouns that should be used to refer to an individual person.

"The University of Michigan’s new policy ignores reality." Strobl says. "If we are going to ignore reality, then I shall be referred to as His Majesty."

Yet he says he’s not trying to be hateful towards others.

"I love all humans and I believe the value of every life," he says. "Supporting reality does not go against that."



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Nonetheless, his opinion runs counter to the policy's purpose.

"Asking about and correctly using someone’s designated pronoun is one of the most basic ways to show your respect for their identity and to cultivate an environment that respects all gender identities," university administrators Martha Pollack and E. Royster Harper wrote in the email announcing the policy.

But some have followed Strobl's lead, sharing their -- shall we say creative -- preferred pronouns using the hashtag #UMPronounChallenge.

Others, however, don't consider the policy a laughing matter...

...including the university.

"We’ve seen an outpouring of gratitude from these students for our recognition of their identity. It is unfortunate that some students are not taking this serious." Kim Broekhuizen, a public affairs specialist for the school, tells USA TODAY College.

What do you think of the school's new policy? Share your thoughts with us on Twitter at @USATODAYCollege.



Michael Schramm is a University of Michigan student and USA TODAY College digital producer.

This story originally appeared on the USA TODAY College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.