Organization raises awareness on campus about sex trafficking

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Organization raises awareness on campus about sex trafficking:

BY BRODY CARTER | Staff Reporter

Out of all countries in the world, the United States traffics the most sex slaves.

Traffick Signs, a sub-organization sponsored by Campus House and Grey Mob designs, is using statistics such as this to raise awareness around campus about human trafficking in the U.S. and around the world.

The organization will be presenting "The Freedom Film" tonight at 7:00 p.m. in CL50 auditorium, accompanied by a guest speaker from Abolition International, a foundation which fights against sex trafficking and exploitation. The video will be showing individual stories of people who were modern day slaves.

Brianna Powell, vice president of research and design, said raising awareness on this topic is crucial.

"We want to raise awareness on the subject because many people are totally oblivious to what's going on around them," Powell said.

Powell believes that enlightened awareness and strength in numbers will spark action to generate forward momentum.

"We're hoping to get more people to help out," Powell said. "We hope that raising this awareness will inspire people to do something about it. Maybe next year with more help we can do more events on campus."

Powell hopes the organizations efforts unveils the truth and strips away the public's innocence on the issue.

"I just want everyone to become aware and not be so naive," Powell said. "How would you feel if your sister or your mom was put into sex slavery? You should feel for these women and anyone who is put into forced labor and human trafficking."

Exhibits were set up by the organization Wednesday and Thursday on the Engineering Mall next to the Armstrong building. Wednesday exhibits explained the production of U.S. made products that are made by slaves, such as rubber, cotton, denim and coffee beans. Thursday showcased facts and photographs on sex trafficking in the states and throughout the world.

Heidi Melton, president of Traffick Signs, said they are not advocating people to stop using these products, but they are creating awareness so people can make their own judgments.

"We want people to start tackling these issues on a personal level," Melton said. "I don't wear Nike or eat Hershey's chocolate."

Melton said the cocoa beans used by Hershey's are exported by farmers that have forced people to work in order to pay off debts near the west coast of Africa. This form of slavery is called bonded labor and is the most common form of slavery today.

Students like YoYo Wang, in the College of Engineering, engaged in the exhibits and was taken aback by what the organization had to advertise.

"I feel sympathy. I know it's reality but it's cruel," Wang said. "It's not so surprising but I still feel quite a shock looking at these pictures and statistics."