Student union votes to replace clapping with jazz hands as it causes anxiety
The students will now use the British Sign Language clapping - or jazz hands - 'a more inclusive form of expression'
A STUDENTS' union in Manchester has voted to replace clapping with jazz hands to help people suffering with anxiety or sensory issues.
The University of Manchester Students' Union passed the resolution at a meeting on September 27, according to student newspaper the
Students have been encouraged to use the British Sign Language clapping - or jazz hands - instead of traditional clapping, whooping, and cheering at some events so that clapping can be more inclusive, according to the paper.
"It was argued that the loud noise of traditional clapping and whooping pose an issue to students with anxiety or sensory issues.
"BSL clapping – or, jazz hands – would be a more inclusive form of expression," the paper said.
Sara Khan, the Liberation and Access Officer, authored the motion to "encourage student groups and societies to do the same, and to include BSL clapping as a part of inclusion training".
Each motion needs a 66 per cent majority to be passed and, according to the paper, Ms Khan's motion faced little opposition.
The Mancunion noted the National Union of Students has been using BSL clapping since 2015.
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In April 2017, delegates from the University of Durham proposed a motion which said that all clapping and whooping must be banned from future NUS events.
The "access needs of disabled students are disregarded/overlooked in terms of conference member behaviour and NUS structures", it said, and called for “reduced cheering or unnecessary loud noises on conference floor, including whooping and clapping."
In a statement to the , a spokesman for the NUS said they don't "actively stop our members from clapping, they choose to be respectful”.
-A previous version of this article described the students' union's motion as a "ban" on clapping. It later issued a statement to say that it had resolved to "encourage" British Sign Language clapping, but was not banning audible clapping. We are happy to clarify.
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