Oxford University is set to alter Latin for non-binary students during graduation ceremonies.
The Latin used during ceremonies has always referred to “masters, ladies and gentlemen”.
However proposals are now being made to the 5,000 academics and staff that make up Oxford’s governing body to change the language to make it more inclusive.
As part of the changes, individuals “supplicating” doctorates in divinity, civil law, medicine, surgery, or master of arts will no longer be required to swear an oath of loyalty to the university with the introduction “Domini doctores (magistri vel domini)”: Doctors (masters or ladies/gentlemen).
Proposals are now being made to the 5,000 academics and staff that make up Oxford’s governing body to change the language to make it more inclusive
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Similar recommendations are being made for other ceremonies, as Oxford has stated the “changes are necessary so that the Latin used can refer to those who identify as non-binary as well as those who identify as male and female”.
People have taken to social media to lambast the decision, complaining about the “wokeness” of the proposed changes, while others argued that linguistically the changes may not even be required.
Former special advisor to John Major in the No 10 policy unit David Soskin wrote on X: “Curious that this sort of thing is not mentioned in @oxfordalumni communications. They probably know how donors would react.”
Meanwhile, television presenter Mary Beard seemed unfazed by the change, stating: “I am not sure that it is a very big issue.”
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Oxford’s 2023 admission report revealed that 52.2 per cent of the new intake were female.
The university does not specify if any students identify as “other gender,” but mentions that this category makes up 0.2 per cent of students at UK universities.
If Oxford had the same proportion, it would have amounted to 14 out of the 7,192 admissions.
The proposals state that the amended Latin has been approved by the institutions public orator, a position currently held by Jonathan Katz.
The university does not specify if any students identify as “other gender,” but mentions that this category makes up 0.2 per cent of students at UK universities. If Oxford had the same proportion, it would have amounted to 14 out of the 7,192 admissions
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Katz, a lecturer in classics at Brasenose College said: “One of my colleagues wrote to me this morning to ask whether this was an early April Fool. It isn’t — just keeping up with modern trends. My only role has been to check that the Latin grammar is correct, which I believe it is so far.”
He added that ideologically he is staying neutral, however acknowledged that in standard Latin the masculine plural is used to cover a mixed-gender group.
However, he noted that “it was felt that the masculine appearance of many words was still unhelpfully dominant.”
An Oxford University spokesman said: “The proposed changes before Congregation create a single text for each ceremony, covering all options students now have for registering genders in line with legal reporting requirements for higher education.”
