Oberlin paying students to conduct 'Social Justice Education'

Oberlin College is offering to pay students $8.50 per hour to become “Social Justice Education Facilitators.”

According to an online job posting, the school’s Multicultural Resource Center is recruiting students to “facilitate Power, Privilege, and Oppression Training, Beyond the Binary Training, and Microaggressions Trainings” and serve as a “consultant on social justice curriculum and education.”

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The Social Justice Education Facilitators (SJEFs) will also be tasked with helping to “document and organize various resources on anti-oppression work” for the benefit of other students as part of their role as “a campus leader and consultant on social justice curriculum and education.”

While no work experience is required, aspiring SJEFs must be at least sophomores and are expected to have, at a minimum, “knowledge on the various forms of oppression, including but not limited to: race, gender, sexuality, ability, class, citizenship.”

At $8.50 per hour, Oberlin’s Social Justice Educators will earn less than many other entry-level employees on campus, such as Student Fundraising Assistants and Shuttle Team members, both of which offer starting wages of $8.60 per hour.

[RELATED: Students get $11/hour to ‘advance social justice and diversity’]

In addition to facilitating trainings on social justice, the SJEFs will also be expected to work evening shifts at the Multicultural Resource Center, which offers programming and resources for undocumented students, students of color, and LGBTQ students.

While the program had its initial training in September, the job posting is still active. At least one student, Helena Colindres, has been hired for the program, according to LinkedIn, but it is likely the school hopes to recruit more.

Successful applicants will be expected to work about six hours per week, including some night and weekend shifts.

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Oberlin isn’t the only college recruiting students to teach peers about privilege. As Campus Reform has reported, UCLA is currently paying students to be Social Justice Advocates, and Rutgers University offers a similar program, though it is unpaid.

Meanwhile, the University of Arizona recently disbanded its Social Justice Advocates program after an initial Campus Reform probe into the program led to widespread criticism of the school.

Campus Reform reached out to Oberlin College multiple times for comment, but did not receive a response.

Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @Toni_Airaksinen