USC offers free 18-week training in social justice activism

The University of South Carolina recently launched a semester-long “Social Justice Program” to train student activists to “combat bias.”

The school put out a call for applications earlier this month, noting that the goal is to create “a network of people who work to combat bias within their community.”

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Participants in the 18-week program will work through three stages of training—”Ally,” “Advocate,” and “Activist”—each of which involves 12 hours of training spread out over six bi-weekly sessions.

At the “Ally Level,” students work to attain an “understanding of identity” while exploring topics of “privilege,” “social justice philosophy,” and “bias and hate.”

Next, they move on to the “Advocate” level, where they discuss “advocating for issues of social justice, and engaging ethically in communities of which [they] are not apart.”

In the final stage, the “Activist” level, students put what they learn into practice through a “service learning project,” and will be required to complete to other social-justice related events, like a “Safe Zone Ally Training” or a “Diversity Retreat.”

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The program, available to students free of charge, will hold a “graduation ceremony” at the end of the semester for students who successfully complete the program.

Those who wish to partake are warned to “treat involvement with this program seriously,” meaning that “once enrolling and accepting a seat in a section,” it is expected that “you complete the level you are enrolled within.”

Campus Reform reached out to the university for additional comment on the program, but did not receive a response in time for publication.

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