"You should be comfortable using Github, having basic programming proficiency in at least one language and have a reasonable grasp of HTML and Javascript. Experience collaborating via IRC is handy, but not critical."
So... very technical?
So... very technical?
Basic proficiency in a random programming language and some grasp of HTML is something that's taught in a high school computer class or any introductory course for a tangentially related college program such as statistics or physics - this level of proficiency is something that a random student (of not-computer subjects) is somewhat likely to have.
I mean, it definitely is technical and does require some background, but it's appropriate to say "a bit technical, but you don't need to be an expert".
While they wouldn't specifically know HTML or Javascript, they'd know enough to how to read the language documentation and gain basic proficiency in a week. They wouldn't be a Douglas Crockford, but they could help out an open source project.
Of course, this was at a state school. Things might be different elsewhere.