The University of Maryland, Baltimore, is looking for students to work as writing consultants, and one of the preferred qualifications is a background in “anti-racist” coursework or activism.
Writing consultants work at the university’s writing center to help other students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty to critique and improve research papers, resumes, cover letters, grant applications, and other materials, the website states. As such, writing consultants who lean into “anti-racist” ideas may end up spreading such ideology and influencing their clients.
One of the essay questions on the job application alludes to this.
“As you can see in our mission statement, we express commitment to interrogating racism and white supremacy and injustice broadly,” the question reads. “How would you want your work as a consultant to contribute to and expand your personal, scholarly, and professional work related to justice and equity?”…