News / UWE Bristol
University drops use of BAME acronym
UWE Bristol is to stop using the term BAME “because it doesn’t represent anyone”.
The acronym, which stands for Black, Asian & minority ethnic, will be replaced with more specific terms to describe someone’s ethnicity.
University bosses say that the decision reflects its commitment to inclusion, which is one of its core values.
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Professor Paul Olomolaiye, pro vice chancellor, equalities & civic engagement, said: “The term is being used by different organisations to represent the collective, which means that you are finding that black people, Chinese and minority ethnicities are being called BAME, but I am Nigerian, I am black, I am African – that’s me.”
The professor said that many people he had spoken to who are Black, Asian or minority ethnic did not identify with the acronym “which evolved out of nowhere”.
“We at UWE Bristol don’t want anybody to be called BAME and want to build a totally inclusive university where everybody, black, white or of any description or of any protected characteristic, is free to be who they want to be and be the best they can be,” Professor Olomolaiye added.
“We are rising up as an institution for inclusion, which is one of our five core values. We want to be inclusive for everyone and I want people to be free within that.”
Main photo: The Students Union at UWE Bristol
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