I am a "healthy," "American," "Caucasian." My "sexual preference" is males. I was a "freshman" last year. My best friend is "homosexual." My grandparents are "senior citizens."

Am I offending you, yet? Because, according to the University of New Hampshire, I just made a lot of people run back to their rooms crying.

Campus Reform exposed the University of New Hampshire’s “Bias-Free Language Guide,” which sets out all words, most of which are a part of everyday speech, that could potentially be offensive to students and should be substituted by words or phrases that are "politically correct."

The issue here is why the university is deciding what is "politically correct." Most of the words on the list that are deemed "problematic" are not actually problematic in the real world outside of the university campus setting.

For example, I’ve never encountered a person who has been offended by the term "freshman." When you are in your first year of high school or college, you are a freshman. The assumed problem with the word is that it doesn’t include women. If a woman wants to be called a "freshwoman" (it sounds ridiculous, but to each their own), then that woman should ask to be called that—not get offended, start suing the university, and cause trouble.

"Offensive" words are getting more and more ridiculous, but there is a better way to deal with this generation’s fragile mindset than making laws on campus that inhibit free speech.

Some campuses have installed "free speech" zones to solve the problem! Really?! What is America coming to?! Whoops, just offended someone…

Okay, seriously though, what is a good way to deal with these "problematic" words? My sense is that, if the student is directly called a word that they find offensive, they should simply ask not to be called that. Most people will respect their decision.

If it is a question of a group or university using an "offensive" word, the offended should take a step back and ask whether the word is derogatory or demeaning. The question should not be "does this word include everyone?"

Humans tend to categorize themselves into different groups. That’s how we identify ourselves. These words give us individuality. By calling words that don’t include everyone "offensive," we lose part of that individuality and uniqueness. We make one-word labels to easily identify ourselves and connect to other people. Without that…well, who are we?

I do not think people should get offended over every little thing, but that isn’t the issue here. The issue is that our right to free speech as citizens of the United States is constantly being suppressed on the typically liberal college campus. Every place on campus should be a "free speech" zone, because expressing ourselves and speaking plainly is our God-given right. We should not be silenced in the fear that someone will not agree or get offended by our words. Of course, we should be as respectful as possible when we make a point, but we should not limit ourselves either. The road to a better world is through open discussion, but that road looks as if it will soon be closed.