Summary: The University of Pennsylvania Law School has a reputation for being against Trump-era policies, making their move to hire a social justice administrator rather interesting.
The state of higher education institutions has become one of social awareness and advocacy. Some institutions may be taking that awareness to the next level of advocating for a particular agenda. The University of Pennsylvania Law School appears to be moving farther towards being an institution that promotes a left-wing agenda as they look to hire a social justice administrator, according to Campus Reform.
The new administrator will be deemed the Director of Social Justice Programs, working with the Toll Public Interest Center, which promotes student activism. Often what the center is urging students, faculty, and local nonprofits to get involved with protesting is anti-Republican, anti-President Donald Trump policies.
The job posting listed on May 15 states, “The Director will design and implement the comprehensive array of programs that will manifest in curriculum for scholars, fellows, and the broader social justice community at Penn Law.”
Generally, social justice administrators are selected by institutions to facilitate training on privilege, implicit bias, and microaggressions, in addition to their role in organizing community events for minority students.
The university’s activism center states, “We believe Trump’s agenda is racist, authoritarian, and corrupt, and it must be stopped.” The Penn Law webpage urges students to “take action” against Trump’s “proposed budget calls for massive cuts to ‘entitlement programs’ including SNAP (formerly food stamps).” The Toll Public Interest Center is also active with Trump issues like immigration, government-funded healthcare, and general welfare benefits.
Not everything the center focuses on is anti-Trump. They do provide pro-bono programs for sexual and domestic abuse victims, help negotiate child custody disputes, and mentor high school students through mock-trial competitions.
Do you think law schools need a social justice administrator? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
To learn more about the battles for social justice on campus, read these articles:
- Controversial Immigration Debate Cancelled at University of Chicago Law
- Is Free Speech Under Attack on Law School Campuses?
- Student Kicked Out for Questioning Teacher’s Beliefs
Photo: legalexecutiveinstitute.com