Thursday, January 25, 2024

Feature by: Kersten Bergstrom, Assistant Director of Community Health and Sexual Violence Prevention Specialist, Whitman College; Nuur Khurana, Human Trafficking Advocate, Support Advocacy & Resource Center (SARC); and Heather Tuininga, Chief Servant Officer, Strategic Alliance to Fight Exploitation in WA (SAFE)

In 2010, President Barack Obama proclaimed January as “National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.” The month is dedicated to raising awareness about human trafficking—domestically and abroad—and to educating the public about prevention and helpful responses. Human trafficking is a crime that involves the use of force, fraud or coercion of another person in order to benefit from their work or service, typically in the form of forced labor, domestic servitude or sexual exploitation.

As advocates and sexual violence prevention specialists, we are often asked questions about human trafficking. When most people think of human trafficking, they think of “stranger danger,” kidnappings in dark alleyways, and far away, dangerous places—not Walla Walla. For many, human trafficking is something that exists more as the dramatic plot line to a big-budget movie rather than the hellish reality it is for millions of victims worldwide. Running from the truth of what human trafficking is and its overwhelming prevalence unintentionally hurts survivors and victims. If we confront, educate and truthfully accept the reality, we aid in prevention while bringing help and hope to those who are being exploited.

Read the full article.

Upcoming campus event:

Hear from a panel of experts at the Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Panel in Maxey Auditorium on Wednesday, Jan. 31 from 6:30-8 p.m. Tabling from various local organizations will start at 6 p.m. (Flyer attached.)

Visiting Assistant Professor of Piano Tom Hicks received a grant from the Vaughan Williams Foundation to commission new music on behalf of Whitman’s piano majors and other students. Camden Reeves will work with Whitman students in a collaborative creative process that leads to at least three significant additions to the concert repertoire, to be published by Composers Edition. This will provide our students with an inspiring insight into new music, often underperformed and misunderstood, while addressing other accessibility-related pedagogical challenges.

Today’s Dialogue & Dignity luncheon is canceled due to travel delays. The open office hours will be shortened and the public talk will happen as scheduled. See calendar below for details.

There are two additional events scheduled this week to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Today at 4 p.m. in the Reid Campus Center Young Ballroom, there will be a recitation of the Mourner’s Kaddish along with the reading of names of victims of the Holocaust and musical reflection provided by faculty in the Music Department. On Friday, Jan. 26 at noon, there will be a luncheon event with a screening of the short documentary “Nina and Irena” followed by a conversation with filmmaker Daniel Lombroso.

The QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) model has been proven to decrease suicide risk in communities like ours. Counseling Center staff will provide two training sessions and participants will be certified as a QPR Gatekeeper, valid for one year. The first training, for faculty and staff members, will take place tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 26 from 1-3 p.m. in Maxey 104 (RSVP). A second training for students will take place on Friday, Feb. 2 from 1–3 p.m. in Maxey 104 (RSVP). Email questions to QPR@whitman.edu. 

Photo (@whitmanathletics): Congratulations to Michelle Ferenz, Head Women's Basketball Coach & Senior Lecturer of Sport Studies. This week she won her 400th game as head coach of the Blues! 

12:10–12:50 p.m.

Movement That Matters: SWAT

Sherwood Athletic Center

3:15–5 p.m.

Dialogue & Dignity: Open Office Hours

Memorial Building, Room 326

4 p.m.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day: Mourner’s Kaddish and Musical Reflection

Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom

7–10 p.m.

Tabletop Games Club: Game Night

Reid Campus Center, Room G02

7 p.m.

Dialogue & Dignity Talk: “Reading Muslims: Race, Islam and the War on Terror”

Olin Auditorium

7 p.m.

Gods at the Movies: Bollywood Film Screening

Hunter Conservatory, Kimball Theatre

Would you like to share an event with campus? Submit the information to the Events Calendar.

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