DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am a college professor, and consider it important to treat all of my students with respect and proper etiquette. Because I cannot always correctly guess someone’s gender from their name or appearance, I ask students to write down their gender, along with other information such as nicknames and why they are taking the class, at the beginning of the semester so I can use the correct pronouns.
One student indicated “gender-neutral” and expressed a preference for being referred to by gender-neutral pronouns (ze, zir, etc.), which I am happy to do. But how do I greet the group of students at the beginning of class? Normally, I would say “ladies and gentlemen,” but I do not wish to exclude this student or to call undue attention to zir by adding a third option. What would you recommend?
GENTLE READER: “Good morning.”