Apparently, at Bucknell University, the students are being instructed in proper verbal behavior so that they don’t offend others with microaggressions, or something of that sort.
Here is a photo of what was posted at one of the dorms at the university:
Although the admonishment to be careful before speaking has become the mantra among those striving to be politically correct, as they use it to curtail any speech they find offensive, the statement was truly meant originally as a simple warning to be courteous to others, not to shut down speech altogether.
The origin of the statement quoted on the dorm wall has been credited to numerous sources, including Poynder’s Literary Extracts, which quoted an earlier source, a Reverend Mr. Stewart, asserting, “Rev. Mr. Stewart advised three questions to be put to ourselves before speaking evil of any man: First, is it true? Second, is it kind? Third, is it necessary?” There are also references in Buddhism; The Vaca Sutta states, “It is spoken at the right time. It is spoken in truth. It is spoken affectionately. It is spoken beneficially. It is spoken with a mind of good-will.” The Patimokkha states, “Do I speak at the right time or not? Do I speak facts or not? Do I speak gently or harshly? Do I speak profitable words or not? Do I speak with a kindly heart or with inward malice?”
Bucknell, located in Lewisburg, in central Pennsylvania, has a student enrollment of roughly 3,600, which means that there aren’t a whole lot of students to offend.
There was at least one incident where the warning on the dorm wall would have been appropriate; in early December, a swastika was carved into the stall of a men’s restroom in the Bertrand Library; University President John Bravman stated, “I am utterly disgusted by and will not tolerate hate speech of any nature. I call on all members of our Bucknell community to stand up against anti-Semitism and all other forms of discrimination. We will not tolerate hate.”