STUDENTS say new signs on toilets at their union building might be making their WC just a 'bit too PC'.

The traditional sign on the door of the Gents has been temporarily replaced with one that says 'toilets with urinals'.

And the sign on the Ladies now simply says 'toilets' in a move to make the lavatories more inclusive for trans-gender students.

The signs on the toilets in the basement of Manchester University students' union were changed after a meeting of the union's executive in the summer.

It is thought the temporary ones will be replaced with permanent new signs in the near future.

Jennie Killip, women's officer at the students' union, put forward the idea of installing the new signs after receiving complaints from trans-gender students about the facilities.

She said: "The idea is that trans-gender people feel more comfortable using their student union.

"Trans-gender people can face violence and abuse when they go into toilets and we wanted to provide a place where they can feel comfortable.

"I have had complaints from people who said we didn't have any facilities for them."

The toilets are outside a club in the basement of the Steve Biko student union building, on Oxford Road.

Gender-neutral

Minutes from the union's executive meeting in July said: "The women's officer asked if any action could be taken following the directive from the council to look into gender-neutral toilets in the union.

"After discussion, the women's officer felt the solution would be to change the signs on one set of toilets in the building to `with urinals' and `without urinals' with explanatory signage.

"She felt the basement would be the most appropriate area to trial this. This was agreed."

Thousands of first-year students have been starting their university careers in the past few days as Freshers' Week got into full swing.

Second-year literature and linguistics student Jane McConnell, 19, is a news editor on the Student Direct student newspaper.

She said: "While these signs might be appropriate for people with different sexualities in the community of the University of Manchester, I also think that many people from different religious and ethnic groups are going to feel uncomfortable using these facilities.

"I think they might believe the university union aren't reflecting their beliefs and choices and that they are going to feel very uncomfortable using these toilets.

"Even though they're just two signs, at the end of the day, toilets should be for women and for men specifically, not for both."

Another student, who did not want to be named, said: "This is ridiculous.

"It is just too much political correctness.

"I can not believe they are changing the signs - everybody knows the traditional male and female toilet signs.

"It could lead to some confusion."


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