‘Not For Sale' Week Announced posted 3/14/08
Events planned for students and community

ADRIAN, Mich. – Adrian College presents its “Not for Sale” week of educational events focused on the fight against human trafficking, March 24-30, 2008 on the College’s campus.

It is hard to get one’s head around the idea, but according to widely-accepted estimates, about 27 million people are held as slaves throughout today’s world. This abusive treatment goes by many names. Often it is called “human trafficking” because people are bought and sold and moved across borders as if they were merchandise.

According to statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Justice, an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 men, women, and children are trafficked across international borders each year. Approximately 70 percent of these people are female, and about 50 percent are children. The majority of these victims are forced into the commercial sex trade, but others are held in debt bondage.

Each year an estimated 14,500 to 17,500 foreign nationals are trafficked into the United States. The number of U.S. citizens trafficked within the country each year is even higher, with an estimated 200,000 American children at risk for being trafficked into the sex industry.

Michigan is not immune to this horror. Recently, MSNBC aired the program “MSNBC Undercover: Sex Slaves in America” which focused on a story of slavery related to the sex industry in the suburban Detroit area.

Adrian College was founded in 1859 as an abolitionist institution. To mark the College's 149th anniversary, students and faculty invite you to attend the "Not for Sale" week of educational events devoted to fighting human trafficking. The following events are free and open to the public as well as the entire Adrian College community.

Come join in the “Not for Sale Movement Party” on Monday, March 24, from 6-9 PM on the main floor of the Caine Student Center. Free pizza and snacks will be provided as well as educational materials and movement giveaways and music and poetry. Orange is the international color of freedom. Orange "stuff" will abound.

On Tuesday, March 25, at 7PM in Dawson Auditorium, listen to Michigan State Representative Dudley Spade speak about "Michigan's Response to Human Trafficking". Representative Spade is the sponsor of several bills moving through the Michigan legislature that would clarify penalties for human trafficking and aid restoration for victims.

The chapel service, “The Higher Law and Human Trafficking" will take place Wednesday, March 26, at 12 P.M. in the College Chapel. Rev. Chris Momany will address Adrian College's tradition of human rights as a matter of God's justice and the intrinsic worth of all people.

The week will end with the much anticipated Dance Marathon 2008 on Saturday- Sunday, March 29-30 in the Merillat Sport and Fitness Center. Several student participants in the Dance Marathon fundraiser will wear orange t-shirts to remind the campus community of the need to fight human trafficking.

Further information may be obtained by contacting the Chaplain’s office at 517-265-5161, ext. 4211 or via e-mail at cmomany@adrian.edu.