Alpha Sigma Phi and the Center for Womyn’s Concerns will be hosting a Human Trafficking Awareness event in Yokum 200 at 7 p.m. The fraternity and organization will be screen the documentary “Tricked,” which exploits human trafficking in the United States, as well as gets firsthand accounts from victims.
Human Trafficking is the modern day slavery, where people are taken against their will to practice forced labor, such as prostitution. After the screening of the documentary, there will be a panel discussion, including panelists, such as Vice President of Alpha Sigma Phi Chris Burek and PSUC Title IX Coordinator Butterfly Blaise.
“I think people should come out because people have the misconception that it’s an international issue,” Burek said, “and it only happens in third world countries, but it does happen in the United States in cities like Boston, New York and LA. One-hundred thousand victims of human trafficking are United States citizens.”
Burek said when he joined the fraternity, one of their philanthropies was RAINN, which is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization.
“It really made me become passionate about that cause and to start something that’s bigger than myself.”
On Tuesday and Wednesday, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Alpha Sigma Phi will be tabling in the ACC as well. There will be a coin drive for RAINN and all donations will go toward the Health Center and Planned Parenthood.
“We’ve found our calling as an organization,” Burek said. “It is such a big thing for a fraternity to stand for considering all these things we’ve heard about fraternities and the stigmas we have and misconceptions.”
Burek also said they will have a chair for students to sign.
“We’re going to have an Adirondack chair where students can write down reasons why they sit down to stand up against sexual assault,” Burek said.
Email Kavita Singh at fuse@cardinalpointsonline.com
