Some more troubles with the name ISIS

We talked about the consequences of calling Daesh the Islamic State as it legitimizes it as a state even though we do not recognize it to be an independent state. However, using the most common abbreviation ISIS might have even more immediate consequences for the everyday lives of every one of us.

The most recent example influences me personally. The University of Economics in Prague, Czech Republic (commonly known as VŠE) has its own information system which is called in English The Integrated Study Information System. The name in original is very similar to the English translation: Integrovaný studijní informační systém, and it is referred to as ISIS. The system was called Integrated so as it would be distinguished from the Study Information System (SIS) of the Charles University.

The Management of VŠE discussed the problem of ISIS in late January because they were worried the abbreviation of its most important system might be problematic for foreign students as it the same as the name of the terrorist organization. Therefore they decided to rename ISIS to InSIS. This change was implemented in early February. However, the URL address of the system stays the same: http://isis.vse.cz/.

ISIS or InSIS is the everyday tool of every student at VŠE, all operations can be made through this system. It includes your university email, database of all teachers and students, syllabi of all courses, all materials for your classes uploaded by your teachers; all official notifications are posted there, you manage your courses and exams through the system (you can drop and add courses, you choose your desired dates and times of your exams), you fill in applications to the university or to any exchange programs there, you find your grades and graded papers there, you even sometimes take exams thought the system. Everything connected with your study at VŠE is to be done through ISIS.

The change to InSIS might seem insignificant but the term ISIS is used in everyday talk. I doubt that anyone would stop addressing the system as ISIS. After the introduction of the name, students’ reactions showed that they are either irritated or amused by the absurdity of the change. The most common criticism referred to the fact that if was the West that gave the name ISIS to Daesh and now the West has to change its original names.

VŠE is not the only one facing this problem. Also, the American corporation Isis Pharmaceuticals changed its name in December to Ionis Pharmaceuticals after financial problems connected with its name. Isis was also the name of the Egyptian goddess of health, marriage and wisdom and some people name their daughters after her which becomes now problematic. This issue of changing the name because of Daesh has even its own Wikipedia page. Even though Wikipedia is not an official resource, I think that when some topic is covered on Wikipedia, it means that it gained enough attention. The page can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Name_changes_due_to_the_Islamic_State_of_Iraq_and_the_Levant.

When will people realize how absurd this situation is?