UW hiring staffer to 'serve students of particular backgrounds'

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is hiring a staffer with a “commitment to eradicating oppression” to direct segregated programming for LGBT students of color.

The “Crossroads Program Coordinator” will be tasked with directing the Crossroads Initiative, which helps students “living in the intersections of race, sexuality, gender, and other layers of identity” by organizing segregated events, such as a retreats and discussion groups exclusively for LGBT students of color.

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Working through a “social justice, intersectional lens,” the Coordinator will also be asked to provide resources and work one-on-one with LGBT students of color, although the exact job responsibilities are not delineated in the job post.

Applicants must have “experience working in student organizing and activism around LGBT issues, multiculturalism, and social justice in a higher education setting,” as well as the ability to plan events, advise students, and create new programs.

The school also wants the Coordinator to have “experience doing social justice training,” a “commitment to eradicating oppression,” and the ability to “articulate the spectrum of experience of gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation.”

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Minimum compensation starts at $47,000 per year with benefits, but could be higher depending on qualifications, according to the job posting.

As Campus Reform reported earlier this year, UW-Madison is also seeking applications for a “Social Justice Education Specialist,” who will perform a similar role on campus.

Both roles are in line with UW-Madison’s Division of Student Life Mission Statement, which outlines a commitment to “actively advance social justice through our work and purposefully strive to offer an affirming environment for all,” according to both job postings.

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Director of Media Relations Meredith McGlone defended the Coordinator role in a statement to Campus Reform, describing it as part of the university’s broader efforts to support students, some of which focus on specific demographic groups.

“UW-Madison is committed to supporting all of our students so they can thrive on campus,” she said. “In addition to our general student services, we have a number of programs that serve students of particular backgrounds.”

The position is “funded through private funds (65 percent) and a state fund for programs for minority/disadvantaged students (35 percent),” McGlone added.

Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @Toni_Airaksinen