As I sat in the HUB-Robeson Center the other day, aimlessly picking at my Panda Express, I began to listen to my peers' discussion over their lunch break.

I overheard conversations involving schoolwork, sports and social encounters. Most of the conversations were of no surprise -- Susie skirt-wearer hooked up with Bob big-pants, so and so is a terrible quarterback and Mr. Anonymous' economics' class was driving students insane.

It was not the conversation that left me feeling jaded, it was the vernacular that our generation has made common. I could only imagine what elders or foreign peers feel about the youth of America.

As I began to feel more ashamed of what our generation had become, I thought that it was a reflection of me, and even I was guilty of the occasional slip in linguistics. What I overheard were students using the terms gay, pussy, dick and bitch -- among others.

Even more surprising was that students were not necessarily using these terms in a malicious manner. These were conversations between friends and classmates, affectionately teasing one another, with words more powerful than they realized.

I contacted the unintended victims of such offensive speech and find out what their reactions were when they overheard what I had.

Of any word that I could think of in recent history that was offensive, taboo, and controversial, one came to mind ... the "n" word.

Against the advice of my fellow columnists, I decided to tackle the "n" word, not because it was taboo but because I felt students should understand why it was taboo.

Recently, this word had been adopted as slang for "friend" or "buddy." Many African-Americans, rightfully, have objected to the use of the term by any individual, including African-Americans.

On Wednesday, I met with Ed Smith, president of the Black Caucus. Smith conveyed that history and education were of utmost importance. He said that to understand the negativity of the word, you must also understand the context in which it was formerly used.

He also felt that perhaps it was not our generation alone, that previous generations had alternate words, still just as offensive. Ultimately, the continual use of this term, by any citizen, was not only suppressing but was not aiding in the attempt to ensure equality, something that still does not exist.

Ed and I discussed possibilities upon why this term was popularized. Was it the sexiness? Was it our pop-culture? We can attribute the resurrection of this term to a number of different causes but one thing remains the same, whether it is used in the sense of camaraderie or not, it is unacceptable for an individual to freely use the term without consequence. It is offensive to not only African Americans, but to everybody trying to promote equality.

I then visited the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trangender Allies office, in an attempt to discover their take on when people use the term "gay" as a negative adjective. When I met with the Allies, I was greeted with an acceptance that someone had taken an interest that offensive language affects them on a daily basis.

Not only did Allies feel it was hurtful to hear terms such as "gay" and "faggot" in a hurtful fashion but they felt as if it were their jobs to educate. President of Allies Christy Merchant expressed that she did not take it personally when she overhears students use those terms but she said, "As a leader of the community it is my job to serve the community."

The use of this language does hurt the LGBT community, perhaps not on a personal level, but certainly as a whole.

Other words I brought up were the even more commonplace terms such as "dick," "pussy" and "bitch." Most students are unaware when they use these terms that they are male and female parts of the anatomy and that by using those terms they make generalizations about males and females. Not only that but the use of those terms can destroy the transgender community. Those who are transgender do not feel restricted to the confines of a category of male or female, they are individuals who can relate and understand both forms and traits of each sexual role.

By calling someone a "pussy," it implies that women cannot or do not have the same capabilities as men.

Some of you may have be thinking "I am not homosexual, I am not an African-American, and I am not a woman, why should I care?"

Because the unintended use of a word could have an effect on people surrounding you.

Some vocabulary may be deemed appropriate if expressed among a group of people who understand language in the context you are using it. This is not to say that you should be offensive in private, but there needs to be understanding about the impact of these terms when used in a public setting.

One positive discovery can be reported, however. Every individual I met with seemed to have an understanding view on other minorities, and were proud to say they rarely found themselves to be using offensive vernacular.

Take my advice and think before you speak. Think about whom you could be affecting. If you still have trouble curbing the lingo of the 21st century, perhaps spend some time with one of the groups I met.