NUS to ban whooping, cheering and clapping

A ban on loud expressions of joy at NUS conferences is the latest in a string of anti-exclusionary policies implemented by the Union.

The NUS claim whooping, cheering and clapping are exclusionary to deaf people at conference. They have warned anyone who does not adhere to these rules will face “consequences”.

Loud expressions of appreciation are suspected to “trigger anxiety” amongst attendees. The NUS recommends people express their support of speakers through “jazz hands”, which has been deemed less exclusionary.

Various senior NUS figures informed conference attendees of the policy. Estelle Hart, a member of the elections committee, stated: “No whooping, it does have a serious impact on some delegates ability to access conference.”

The VP for Welfare, Shelly Asquith, also condemned the practice. She said: “We’ve had a number of requests that people stop whooping”.

Delegates from Durham University proposed a motion to ban all whooping and clapping from future NUS conferences, including consequences for any transgressors who stray from the NUS verified form of appreciation, jazz hands. Many critics were quick to point out jazz hands discriminates against the blind.

Recently, universities throughout the country have been attempting to iron out micro-aggressions. Oxford University recently claimed avoiding eye contact with other students could be deemed as racist. Edinburgh University has also started attaching trigger warnings to Theology lectures on ‘gruesome’ episodes in the Bible.