Students raise awareness on and off campus
Two University of Indianapolis organization are working to spread awareness about sex trafficking, which is a prevalent issue in the world. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s website, www.fbi.gov, sex-trafficking is typically identified as the movement of people across areas in order to exploit them sexually. Statistically, many of the people involved in sex-trafficking are young girls ages ten and up.
According to the FBI, “An estimated 293,000 American youths currently are at risk of becoming victims of commercial sexual exploitation.”
UIndy has two on-campus organizations that are currently promoting sex-trafficking awareness. Both the women’s soccer team and the organization known as Keys are bringing sex-trafficking awareness to students.
“We are doing a season-long campaign to raise awareness,” said Women’s Soccer Coach Kiley Cirello. “We are asking for pledges or donations through our athletics website. Most have been a specified amount per goal scored on the season.”
The women’s soccer team also is providing public service announcements at every home game and wearing custom warm-up uniforms to promote awareness.
In October, the team will be accepting pledges from opposing teams as well.
Keys, an organization that was recently created by UIndy students also has set its sights on sex-trafficking awareness. The organization was created to educate the students and faculty.
“While many think Keys is an acronym, the word Keys is a representation,” said Nathan Stoneking, one of the original creators of Keys. “It represents our organization unlocking the silence of human trafficking by advocating, educating and supplying service opportunities.”
The organization holds meetings every other Monday. The meetings focus primarily on the education of young adults about sex trafficking but is not limited to just that topic. At Keys, many of the students are taught how to speak to strangers, family and friends about the issue of sex trafficking.
Students also are informed about important dates, speakers and events that also promote sex trafficking awareness at UIndy.
The women’s soccer team and Keys, although two very different organizations, are helping spread awareness for the same cause.
Because of these organizations’ efforts, many UIndy students understand the implications of sex trafficking and are assisting in spreading sex trafficking awareness.
“We have about 160 emails of people who have shown interest in our group. We have just over 100 members on our Facebook group, UIndy Keys,” Stoneking said. “For this being our first semester I’d say we are doing pretty well.”
