The University of Minnesota should recognize the benefits of allowing the option of having a student’s chosen name to replace their legal name on class rosters.

Whether a student is international, trans-identified, divorced, recently married or simply prefers an alternative name, the University must be held accountable in prioritizing a preferred name option on class rosters on all University campuses.

Minnesota Public Interest Research Group’s  Equality Task Force is working on a preferred name campaign. This would require the University’s Office of the Registrar to modify its software system to include a preferred name option within grade rosters, class lists and myU features.

No student should face public humiliation in the classroom of a university that’s dedicated to providing a safe and inclusive learning environment.