Human Trafficking and online safety | Photo by Arden Reimer | The Wright State Guardian
The Women’s Center partnered with Public Safety to host a Q&A event for students to learn about the potential dangers of human trafficking and how to stay safe.
The Women’s Center
The purpose of the Women’s Center on campus is to create a safe space for students, faculty and staff to find community with one another.
In addition to participating in Sex Week, they have many other events throughout the year. Some of these will include Love Your Body Week, book clubs, open mic nights and more.
The Women’s Center is located in the basement of the Student Union, and students are welcome to go there to study, meet with student organizations and just be around similar students to build and foster relationships.
About the event
The Q&A took place on Sept. 24, in the upper atrium of the Student Union, which experiences high foot traffic.
Bobbie Szabo, the assistant director of the Women’s Center, set up and ran the tabling event with the support of Public Safety. She shared why this event was so important to her.
“I’m a professor of Women and Gender Studies and my students had lots of questions about human trafficking. Things are so hyperbolized that it’s hard for people to find the truth,” Szabo said.
The issues of human trafficking and online scams have been prevalent for a long time, but with the rise of the internet, it is becoming easier to fall victim to these traps.
It is important to know the steps that can be taken to prevent students from falling into danger, and that was the purpose of the event; to educate students on how to keep themselves safe.
“You’re looking for extremes when it comes to online scams. Either the scammer will refuse to give information about themselves, or they’ll go the opposite and send too much information,” Szabo said.
How to stay safe
It is critical that students stay alert and know the warning signs for potential scams.
People should never be asking for personal information or pushing boundaries. Students should also be wary of false promises of love or a stable job.
The U.S. Department of Justice website has lots of information on who is most likely to fall victim to a human trafficking scheme, where these incidents are taking place and what is being done to help the issue.
“Victims of human trafficking can be anyone…But as is the case in many crimes of exploitation and abuse, human traffickers often prey upon members of marginalized communities and other vulnerable individuals, including children in the child welfare system,” the website reads.
Just like victims, traffickers can be anyone too.
“People often incorrectly assume that all traffickers are males; however, the United States has prosecuted cases against women traffickers,” the website states.
The Justice Department also offers training and outreach initiatives to advance survivor-centered anti-trafficking strategies.
Dan Doherty, a community officer for Wright State Public Safety, shared the goal for all Public Safety officers on campus.
“As a university and a community, we are committed to providing a safe and secure environment,” Doherty said.
Make sure to take time to check out any potential messages for these scams, as it can save lives. Stay alert, and stay safe.
