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CABRINI UNIVERSITY VOL. LX, ISSUE 4
THELOQUITUR.COM
THURSDAY, NOV. 15, 2018
The fight to end human sex trafficking BY CHRISSY MCCOLLUM News Editor
Human trafficking is a well disguised terror that happens closer to home than some may believe. Since the beginning of 2018, Montgomery County has had 20 reported incidents of children being trafficked. Human trafficking is defined as “a modern-day form of slavery. Victims of human trafficking are subjected to force, fraud or coercion, for the purpose of sexual exploitation and/or forced labor.” Besides drug trafficking, human trafficking is the fastest growing crime industry in the world. Like human trafficking, sex trafficking is “the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a child for the purpose of a commercial sex act, which is induced by force, fraud or coercion, or in which the person forced to perform such an act is younger than 18.” According to the International Labour Organization, there are over 40 million human trafficking victims worldwide. In October of 2018, Cabrini held its eighth annual Domestic Violence Symposium. The topic for this year examined trauma and trafficking. A few speakers of different expertise with various experiences held a panel discussion that shed light on the impacts human trafficking has on it’s victims and the trauma it causes. In Pennsylvania, 74 percent of those involved in human trafficking are female, 12 percent are male and 14 percent unknown. 21 percent of victims are minors. Statistics show that one in four girls and one in six boys experience sexual abuse before the age of 18. Even if a child under the age of 18 consents to what their trafficker is asking them to do, any sexual activity is still deemed as rape. Traffickers often use the Internet to attract young victims. They use grooming tactics to make their victims feel beautiful and wanted. They can also disguise themselves online and build a relationship - commonly a romantic relationship - with the victim in hopes of meeting in person. Marinello explains that another way of recruiting victims is to look for the vulnerable person. The King of Prussia Mall is a known location for abducting and forcing both children and adults into trafficking. For instance, “if
a group of girls are walking together in the mall and one falls behind, that girl is more susceptible to the trafficker,” said Marinello. Abused children and all trafficking victims rarely disclose their situation, mainly because they do not feel safe. Male victims are even less likely to self-disclose. They fear either getting in trouble with the authorities, or their trafficker finding them and punishing them for admitting their abuse. Marinello says that she has met many cops who have a hard time distinguishing between trafficking victims and what could be criminal prostitution. “Traffickers groom their victims to believe the police are the enemy,” Marinello said. “Police often treat victims poorly or as criminals because they do not self-disclose.” Victims are typically pressured to stay with their trafficker due to a trauma bond. PsychCentral defines a trauma bond as “loyalty to a person who is destructive... The environment necessary to create a trauma bond involves intensity, complexity, inconsistency, and a promise. Victims stay because they are holding on to some elusive ‘promise’ or hope. There is always manipulation involved.” To break this bond, victims must want to be helped. Outsiders cannot successfully force victims to get help, they should instead work on building a safe relationship with them until they are ready to receive help. Survivors of human trafficking, sexual abuse, or any other traumatic event can seek help from the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County. The DVCCC offers adult counseling services, emergency shelter housing, child care, counseling services and legal representation services for those in need. Students can also receive help from Cabrini’s counseling and psychological services found on campus in Grace Hall. To report a tip or get help, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. In the event of an emergency, call 911 immediately. CONTINUE READING ONLINE CHRISSYMCCOLLUM@GMAIL.COM
CHRISSY MCCOLLUM/NEWS EDITOR
Dr. Shirley Dixon: the first Cabrini doctorate graduate BY EVA SOLER Staff Writer
Dr. Dixon receiving her doctorate degree May 20th, Shirley Walker Dixon became the first student at Cabrini University to graduate with a doctoral degree. Her degree is in Educational Leadership. This is her third degree from Cabrini’s education department.
CABRINI UNIVERSITY
“I feel honored to be the first alumna to graduate with all three degrees from Cabrini College and University,” Dixon said. Since 1980, Dixon has been contributing to Cabrini’s educational program. She started as an undergraduate student,
young and ambitious. She graduated first in 1984 and then again in 1989 with her second degree in education. In 1990, Dixon became the first African American to join the Board of Trustees at Cabrini. By 1992, she became a faculty member, accepting a position as an adjunct professor for the education department. Four years later and she accepted a full-time position Coordinator of Diversity Initiatives here at Cabrini. From 2007 to 2014, Dixon taught as an assistant education professor. She played a great role in the education department here at Cabrini. “[I started and stayed at Cabrini] because I am committed to the core values that Cabrini is committed to,” Dixon said. Outside of Cabrini, Dixon has served her communities graciously. She taught
fifth grade and eventually became principal at Girard College Elementary School, being the first African American to do so. Dixon has also taught in rural Ghana and was a principal for an all-girls school in Africa, as well. “As an educational leader for the past 35 years, I have been dedicated to the enterprise of investigating and creating classroom interventions that build the core principles of responsive cultural pedagogy,” Dixon said. Dixon’s colleagues agree that she is a great member of the Cabrini community, especially the education department.
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