A university in California is telling athletes not to use phrases such as 'like a girl' or 'man up' as part of a new campaign against offensive language.

California State University-Chico's athletics committee unveiled 17 posters last week, each with a banned word or phrase.

Various athletes pose next to the offensive words, which are captioned with a reason not to use them.

One poster for 'like a girl' features a female baseball player with her bat resting on her shoulder. It reads: 'I don't say 'like a girl' because gender has no limits.'

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California State University-Chico's athletics committee unveiled 17 posters last week, each with a banned word or phrase. This one bans the use of the phrase 'man up'





This poster for 'like a girl' features a female baseball player with her bat resting on her shoulder. It reads: 'I don't say 'like a girl' because gender has no limits'





Chico State's athletics committee hopes that students will watch their language and realize the power of words after seeing the posters







Other words banned by the campaign include 'spaz', 'retarded' and porno anak kecil desah 'shemale'.

'Everyone is welcome here. We are a family. We want everyone to feel included, and we want our language to reflect that,' athletics committee co-president Haley Kroll told Chicago State Athletics.




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The campaign was inspired by a similar initiative by Duke University, which in 2014 also told students which words they shouldn't be using as slang.

Among the banned phrases, 'man up' is written next to a cross country athlete holding her sneakers.

The students chose the words for their posters, according to the athletics committee. 




Another poster for 'like a girl' (pictured) states: 'I don't say runs like a girl because being a female doesn't hinder my athleticism'





The students chose the words for their posters, according to the athletics committee. Pictured, this male student chose to speak out against the word w***e





The posters, which were produced by Chico State's creative media and technology department, now hang in the university's strength and conditioning center





The signs will also be displayed in one of the halls in December. This one features two athletes taking a stance against the word f**





The N word is also included in the campaign as one of the words that should never come out of athletes' mouths. Pictured, a poster explains that the term is derogatory and offensive

The caption reads: 'I don't say man up because it insinuates women can't be courageous.' 

Another poster states: 'I don't say runs like a girl because being a female doesn't hinder my athleticism.' 

The posters, which were produced by Chico State's creative media and technology department, now hang in the university's strength and conditioning center.

They will also be displayed in one of the halls in December.  

'I hope people see them-not only the rest of our student-athletes, but school wide,' Kroll said. 

'The whole purpose of this campaign is to open people's eyes and let them see what these words mean and how hurtful they can be. Hopefully it will cause people to think before they speak and be aware of the type of inclusive language they should be using.'




This student posing with a golf club chose to speak out against the word 'spaz' because his cousin has disabilities that are beyond his control 





Also included in the campaign is the word 'shemale', which this track and field athlete says she doesn't use because a woman's strength doesn't undermine her femininity





The athletics committee hopes to send a message of inclusion and tolerance thanks to the campaign. Pictured, a poster explains why the phrase 'that's retarded' should be banned






Some praised the initiative on Facebook, saying it was needed and would usher a welcome change. Others criticized the campaign for being too politically correct





These two baseball players, posing in their uniforms with their glove and bat, took a stance against the phrase 'just kill me' on their poster

Chico State Athletics unveiled the campaign on Facebook Thursday, prompting some users to criticize the initiative for being too politically correct.

'They are words and the truth hurts. Why should we all be so sensitive to other peoples opinions. We should be raised to not let other peoples opinions bother us,' Facebook user Nick Kading wrote.

'I wouldn't use derogatory words around people that they would offend out of respect but if i did then they shouldn't let the words bother them either.'

Another person wrote: 'I don't let anyone, especially athletes, tell me what words I can use. The authoritarian smugness of this campaign is frightening.'

But others praised the initiative and said it was needed. 

One man wrote: 'Awesome! I am a Chico graduate and now a high school teacher that advises a GSA club (gay straight alliance or gender and sexuality alliance). Our words have the potential to hurt or heal each day. This is a nice reminder of that. I will share this with my students.'

A woman called the posters 'wonderful', adding: 'I am frankly surprised at how many people still don't understand, and are threatened and verbally violent when they see these.

'Keep on speaking out for strength and compassion, because that is how the world changes for the better.'




The campaign was inspired by a similar initiative by Duke University (pictured), which in 2014 also told students which words they shouldn't be using as slang



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