Background: Across the past year, the UC system has experienced an alarming increase in hate speech and biased attitude. This UCOP (University of California, Office of the President) funded project aims to combat this rising bias. The goal of the project is to work with incoming first year students living in the dorms to reduce these biases. The project will be an intervention based on scientific evidence, which suggests intergroup contact is promising mechanism for reducing bias.
Position description: This GSR will help develop and supervise the running of an anti-bias program. They will help review the literature of reducing bias, manage the logistics of the project, develop activities, and supervise a group of undergraduate students who will be hired to run the intervention. The candidate will need to be able to engage in and initiate conversations among diverse ideologies and opinions with the goal of connecting and promoting understanding across multiple perspectives, while maintaining neutrality and confidentiality. The candidate will need to have exceptional ability to facilitate difficult conversations and make all students feel welcome and valued, regardless of their background. The candidate will need to have exceptional verbal communication skills, including active listening. The ideal candidate will have a track record of engaging in peace-building, bridge-building, or civil discourse initiatives, or experiences that demonstrate an interest or promise of this type work.
Timeline: 25% summer 2024 (start date 8/12); 50% fall 2024; 50% winter 2025
Application: Please include your CV, a cover letter detailing your experience/promise for this position, a list of clubs and student groups you have been involved in, and the names of 2 referees who can speak to your bridge building and communication skills. Email to Leah Hibel [email protected] by midnight 7/26/2024.