by Kelli Blackshear | Feb 22, 2012 | News Slider
Slavery. It’s a term that may remind some of their middle school social studies class, the Civil War, or figures like Abraham Lincoln and Harriet Tubman. What may shock people is that slavery still exists. Not only that, but there are more slaves today than ever in history. People all over the world, including in the United States, are victims of slavery in its various forms including domestic slavery, bondage slavery and sex slavery. Lipscomb students interested in exploring this issue and helping eradicate slavery have the opportunity to get involved. Every Thursday night at 7:30 a group that ranges from five to 15 people meets to discuss this very question. They are known as the International Justice Mission, a chapter of the Washington-based IJM. This is the third year IJM has been on campus and is being led by Cooper McCullough. His time as IJM president has had ups and downs. “My stint as president has been both encouraging and discouraging. Some of the ideas that we’ve brainstormed, as well as the genuine passion I’ve seen in people, has been amazing,” he said. “Discouragement can creep in, though, when I feel like I’ve done a poor job providing people an outlet to combat injustice or when people make it clear that their passion for justice won’t translate into action.” Among the successes are IJM fundraisers. McCullouogh said that some of the organization’s big past events have included a dance party, bake sale, prayer vigil, student recorded album, concert and several chapels/documentaries. He said the meetings begin with “good news,” which is usually a story of rescues by IJM, and a prayer to...
by Emily Snell | Jan 11, 2012 | News Slider
Nearly 2 million children are exploited each year in the global sex industry. Statistics like this are “staggering” says Dr. Randy Spivey, academic director of Lipscomb’s Institute for Law, Justice and Society. Jan. 11 is Human Trafficking Awareness Day, and people across the United States are recognizing those innocent men, women and children who are bought and sold into slavery worldwide. Studies show that 27 million people are enslaved today. Spivey, who taught a course last semester about human trafficking, said the U.S. is one of the greatest consumers of the “product” of modern slavery. Spivey noted that a police officer that took his class used the information he gained during the semester to recognize a human trafficking incident, rescuing a woman who had been held captive for a year and who had been transported across several states. Dr. Cayce Watson, assistant professor of social work, also teaches students about human trafficking so they are prepared if they encounter it in their careers. “Part of social work’s core values is to fight for social justice,” Watson said. “Human trafficking happens everywhere and nowhere. Everywhere because it’s happening and nowhere because people don’t talk about it.” Please upgrade your browser “Some folks have a notion that it happens far away, that it doesn’t happen here,” Watson said. “But we’re kind of a hotbed for that because of our interstates and being close to Atlanta.” According to a 2011 report by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, 85% of counties in Tennessee reported at least one case of human trafficking within the past 2 years. “You have to be able to recognize...
