UT Under Fire Again Over Politically Correct Holiday Parties

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – An online post about holiday party suggestions has the University of Tennessee’s Office for Diversity and Inclusion under fire.

Media outlets report that Thursday, U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan appeared on Fox News and called the post, titled "Best Practices for Inclusive Holiday Celebrations in the Workplace," an example of political correctness run amok. The post says parties should celebrate workplace relationships with no emphasis on religion or culture.

Throughout the day, additional lawmakers expressed support for Duncan. State Senators Delores Gresham and Mike Bell called on Chancellor Jimmy Cheek to resign.

The UT Office of Diversity and Inclusion defended itself on Twitter, saying that "You only need to walk around campus to see that we are not anti-Christmas. We are pro-inclusion."

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Inclusive Holiday Celebration Clarification

(posted now on the UT Office for Diversity and Inclusion)

Please note that the resource as stated in the first line is a not a policy – it is a list of suggestions for inclusive celebrations.

We recognize that our campus community is diverse and its members observe various religions and faiths.

Our campus has numerous holiday parties and celebrations and we do not monitor activities.

We honor Christmas as one of the celebrations of the season and the birth of Jesus and the corresponding Christmas observance is one of the Christian holidays on our cultural and religious holidays calendar.

The practices are an online resource for faculty and staff to review as a means of creating a more inclusive holiday environment within their departments and administrative units.

Office for Diversity and Inclusion 
(original website post)
(controversial section in orange)

Best Practices for Inclusive Holiday Celebrations in the Workplace

The university does not have an official policy regarding religious and cultural décor and celebration in the workplace. However, we are fully committed to a diverse, welcoming, and inclusive environment.

In addition to consulting our cultural and religious holidays calendar when selecting a date for your event, we encourage you to implement the following best practices for inclusive holiday celebrations.

• Holiday parties and celebrations should celebrate and build upon workplace relationships and team morale with no emphasis on religion or culture. Ensure your holiday party is not a Christmas party in disguise.

• Consider having a New Year’s party and include décor and food from multiple religions and cultures. Use it as an opportunity to reinvigorate individuals for the new year’s goals and priorities.

• Supervisors and managers should not endorse, or be perceived as endorsing, religion generally or a specific religion.

• If an individual chooses not to participate in a holiday party or celebration, do not pressure the person to participate. Participation should be voluntary.

• If a potluck-style party or celebration is planned, encourage employees to bring food items that reflect their personal religions, cultures, and celebrations. Use this as an opportunity for individuals to share what they brought and why it is meaningful to them.

• If sending holiday cards to campus and community partners, send a non-denominational card or token of your gratitude.

• Holiday parties and celebrations should not play games with religious and cultural themes–for example, “Dreidel” or “Secret Santa.” If you want to exchange gifts, then refer to it in a general way, such as a practical joke gift exchange or secret gift exchange.

• Décor selection should be general, not specific to any religion or culture. Identify specific dates when décor can be put up and when it must come down.

• Refreshment selection should be general, not specific to any religion or culture.

• Most importantly, celebrate your religious and cultural holidays in ways that are respectful and inclusive of our students, your colleagues, and our university.