A university voted to replace clapping with 'jazz-hand waving'. The University of Manchester Students' Union voted to replace clapping with 'jazz hands'. This is to respect people who are affected by loud noise. The 'jazz hands' wave is the British Sign Language's form of clapping. It involves waving one's hands in the air. A Students' Union spokeswoman said the vote was to respect the many people affected by loud noises like clapping and cheering. She said many people with conditions like autism, sensory issues and deafness often avoid public events because of loud clapping and cheering.
There has been a lot of criticism of the vote. A British broadcaster tweeted that, "Britain is losing its mind". The debate even reached the USA, where former Florida governor Jeb Bush tweeted: "Not cool, University of Manchester. Not Cool." The Students' Union said they represent the majority of students' views, saying: "The policy was passed to encourage the use of British Sign Language clapping ...to make...events more accessible and inclusive for all." It added: "We are not banning audible clapping. We understand that some people may be more comfortable to continue using it."