Colleges are getting social justice-y, and students who aren’t along for the ride will probably pay the price.
The latest example: A student employee for the University of Minnesota’s Department of Housing and Residence Life was not rehired because she did not advocate for social justice in a way the school deemed acceptable.
Justine Schwarz was a community adviser at the University of Minnesota and she recently underwent a performance review to determine if she should be rehired. In Schwarz’s review, resident director Sean Smallwood wrote that “Justine has not demonstrated a commitment to social justice growth and promotion to residents.” He added that she engaged in the unforgivable crime of playing “devil’s advocate” whenever discussions about diversity or social justice took place.
What Smallwood couldn’t find, however, was anything Schwarz needed to improve upon when it came to crisis management, being a role model, enforcing policy, community activities, and developing positive relationships with her residents. In fact, he praised Schwarz, saying she “has been able to connect with her residents on a personal level and is clearly creating a positive learning environment.”
According to Campus Reform,
Schwarz alleges that she was confronted by Smallwood in a one-on-one conversation where he was adamant that she should feel oppressed because of her womanhood, and felt individually targeted for her political opinions whenever she had to meet with Smallwood individually.
Campus Reform also reports that an Housing and Residence Life director at the university said: “If a CA (community adviser) applies to return, and there are no job action pieces or performance concerns, it is very likely that they will return to the position.” The fact that Schwarz was praised for her performance on the job makes it alarming that her unwillingness to bow to SJW culture cost her her campus job.
