RUTHFULLY YOURS

In the brave new world of higher education, one finds that a Senior Diversity & Inclusion Specialist is needed for Princeton University in New Jersey.

Thus,

Princeton University’s Office of Human Resources (HR) seeks to fill a newly created position, the Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Specialist (Specialist) who will foster relationships and work collaboratively with a wide array of campus partners to advance the recommendations of the Trustee Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity and current departmental and institutional goals.

http://www.careerbuilder.com/job/J3G4HZ6MZNW7TG4GYQT

Consequently, “this is an exceptional opportunity to work with employees and contribute to Princeton University’s current diversity, inclusion, and equity campus initiatives.”

Thus the job of the Specialist will be “as a facilitator who demonstrates empathy when working with individuals and groups and excels at reading their audience, thinking on one’s feet, and creatively adapting to meet the needs of a diverse audience.”

Did anyone from Princeton proofread?  The word “facilitator” is a singular noun and simply cannot use “their” which is a plural pronoun.

But is that because when “thinking on one’s feet,” it is unclear if one is upside down or right side up?

In order to achieve the stated goals, “[t]he Specialist must be adept at working strategically and proactively in a dynamic, team-oriented work environment; excelling at communication skills with the ability to express ideas clearly and concisely; managing difficult conversations between individuals in both meeting and educational contexts with strong political acumen and aptitude; working both collaboratively and independently, depending on the need; taking initiative, and problem solving with good judgment about when to seek direction; managing multiple projects and competing priorities simultaneously while balancing the need for quality and precision with meeting deadlines.”

Is the previous paragraph the quintessential example of concise writing?

And, clearly, the “Essential Qualifications” include:
-Demonstrated knowledge of D & I topics, such as: identity (i.e., race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, class, disability, faith, and age), intersectionality, privilege and power, unconscious bias, microagressions, improving climate, and intergroup and intragroup dynamics and dialogue.

Of course, climate has everything to do with expressing empathy to one’s fellow students.  Golly, did I express a micro aggression by using the term “fellow?”

-Three to five years relevant experience with the key functions of this [sic]

-Knowledge of diversity and social justice topics, including current research, national trends related to diversity and inclusion in higher education, and theoretical models.

-Ability to influence without authority and work through change processes with empathy; collaborate effectively with colleagues; and take initiative, problem solve, and work independently with good judgment about when to seek direction, as well as manage multiple projects and competing priorities simultaneously while balancing the need for quality in meeting deadlines.

Clearly or not so clearly, the writer means that the D&I Specialist does not need to have an authority figure issuing orders.  But the way this is written, it appears that the Specialist will not have the authority to initiate anything.  But alas, I am nitpicking!

-Comfortable with conflict and able to manage difficult conversations in programmatic and meeting contexts, as well as experience “calling in” people as a way of educating them about a wide range of diversity and inclusion topics.

“Calling in people” has the chilling aura of re-education programs so common in totalitarian societies.  It would warm the cockles of Mao’s heart.

-Excellent verbal, written, and aural [sic] communication skills;

-High degree of professionalism and discretion in maintaining confidentiality and ability to exercise judgment, tact, and diplomacy in handling sensitive information

-Demonstrated proficiency in using technology, including presentation software and social media tools.

Preferred background will include a “degree, coursework, and/or professional certification in a related academic field (e.g., ethnic studies, women and gender studies, LGBT and queer studies, diversity and social justice education).”

Tuition costs for Princeton for the year 2014-2015 were almost $60,000.  Empathy and intersectionality come with quite a high price tag.  But, rest assured, your budding scientist will be spared any alleged “micro aggressions.”

Linguistic contortions, confusing jargon, and leftwing ideology reign supreme on the American campus.