Not For Sale

A message from the President

erasmusproject — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 17:06:56 +0000

After hearing this response from Father Privett I took the posting titled “Ducca” happens down. This posting expressed the feelings of the Erasmus Students after we were informed that USF could not be declared an abolitionist university. Here we have a response from the president of our University, and it makes all the sense in the world. Thank you Father Privett for all the support you have given us!

“After reading David Batstone’s book and having an extended dicussion with him, the Univeristy’s Leadership Team [All Vice Presidents and Deans] reached a consensus that USF endorse and support student-led efforts [Not For Sale Campaign] and those of our student atheltes [Free to Play Campaign] to end human traficking. The University is and wants to be idenfied as a Jesuit University. That identification carries with it a 450 year tradition of educating stduents to make a difference in society. The University encourages and supports this particular student-driven effort to end human traficking, as it supports other efforts aimed at promoting the dignity and worth of every human being: the Global HIV-AIDS inititative, Point 7 millenial goals, reduction of third world debt campaign, drive to end malaria, global warming initiatives. It is my judgment that the Univeristy should be viewed as a institution that supports and encourages all well informed and thoughtfully orchestrated efforts to “fashion a more humane and just world for all” without privileging any one initiative over the other. My decision to not formally and officially declare USF an abolitionist University does not mean that the University does not support the campaign to end human traficking. It does. Indeed, USF is proud of those students and student-athletes who are taking the lead in this important effort, as I said yesterday in my comments to those USF students assembled in McLaren.

Stephen A. Privett, SJ
President”

NOT FOR SALE DAY

erasmusproject — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 01:24:46 +0000

Did you see all the orange on campus today ribbons tied around the trees and poles this morning? Did you see all the chalk on the ground when you walked to class???? Do you see people wearing orange??? Do you wonder why???

That’s because NOT FOR SALE DAY is finally here!!!!!!

Be in Harney Plaza at 12pm!!!!! And follow the events that will occur today. Let’s all join the movement to end Human Trafficking.

Class Presentations

erasmusproject — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 06:30:12 +0000

(3 more days…(till NOT FOR SALE DAY!!!)

This week Erasmus Students are giving presentation within the school of Arts and Science. The students have been educating their peers about the mapping project they have been working on the whole semester hand in hand with the FREE TO LEARN movement. Today was the first day of presentations and there have already been compliments!

Dave,

I just wanted to let you know how great the Erasmus students were today and what a great conversation they fostered in my Gender and Social Movement Class. Thanks again for sending them!

Eve

Meredith May Interview

erasmusproject — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 03:49:01 +0000

10 days left (till not for sale day)

Three erasmus students, Maya, Mel, and Tini, took the initiative to talk to Meredith May to learn more about Human Trafficking! Watch it!

The Countdown Begins!

erasmusproject — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 20:52:46 +0000

16 more days till… NOT FOR SALE DAY!

Be there to show your support for this important cause. For more information please contact randy@notforsalecampaign.org!

Some Useful Tools

erasmusproject — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 16:49:56 +0000

Natalie stumbled upon these files during her research. A brief if not extensive knowledge of the law is important to social change. Check it out for yourself!

Law Enforcement Toolkit on Trafficking in Persons

Model State Anti-Traffickig Statute

Interview with MAY!

erasmusproject — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 17:51:54 +0000

This week was an exciting week for us interviewers! We finally had
our interview with Meredith May- I went down to the SF Chronicle with
Tini, Maya, and Angelica. The interview went really well- she was
very friendly and easy to talk to. There was some review information,
because we have read all of her articles from the Diary of a Sex
Slave, as well as many other articles about her investigation, but
she provided many new contacts that we can interview as well as new
directions we can take with our investigation. We have made a list of
the items we want to focus on that we extracted from the interview.
This interview was a fun experience and I can’t wait for more.

-Mel

Humor is the way to go?

erasmusproject — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 17:50:33 +0000

Often times we forget that there’s a positive way to inform people of negative things.

About a month ago, I watched this episode of family guy with some of my friends. When the clip above came on, everyone turned their heads and looked at me afraid to laugh. My friends all knew I was very touchy when it came to issues of human trafficking or what not. However, it had the opposite effect on me. I did not find it funny, niether did I find it offensive. It was kind of nice that they even recognized that the scene was reffering to human trafficking.

Seems to me that the producers of shows such as Family Guy or South Park are making efforts in an ‘out of the universe’ type of way to bring these issues to the masses.

Seeing a bunch of Asian girls running out of a car trunk would not normally but funny, however, if you knew the connotations behind it and recognize that there is a bigger meaning behind the issue at hand… then it suddenly becomes funny, because you know it is true!

Wanting to help people should be motivating, not a spirit breaker!

-Mai

Can I have your Autograph?

erasmusproject — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 20:43:28 +0000

Below is the “No Child Soldiers” Declaration from the WORLD VISION website.

They have an amazing goal and together we can make it happen.

“Our goal is peace for the children of northern Uganda — and 1 million signatures.”

Once the signatures are collected, we’ll take the Declaration to the Bush Administration, Congress, and the UN to demand action. We’ll coordinate focused events with the press and with concerned individuals like you.

Everyone can access it via the world wide web and sign if they believe that:

“In northern Uganda, more than 25,000 children have been kidnapped and forced to serve as soldiers in a nightmarish civil war that the world has largely ignored. These innocent children are brutalized and mutilated, forced to commit atrocities, and given as sex slaves to military commanders. This targeted abuse of children is unacceptable.

As parents, people of faith, students and youth, we urge all parties involved in this conflict to find a peaceful resolution. We implore the United States government, the United Nations, and the international community to work diligently to bring peace and protection to the children of northern Uganda. All children deserve to have a childhood free from torture and a future free from cruelty.”

CLICK HERE TO SIGN

New fight, old foe: Slavery

erasmusproject — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 20:09:09 +0000

The Christian Science Monitor wrote an article about the fight against human trafficking at the University of San Francisco. The Article includes a great rave about how USF (the Erasmus) students are making a difference!

READ THE ARTICLE!