Many events were held around the globe in support of this day, and Megan Casner ’22, Professor Tom Arcaro and Ahmed Al Fadaam participated in a Zoom conference jointly organized by the Kurdish Regional Government and the Ministry of Culture and Youth, Department of Gender Equity.

Casner is a juniort majoring in anthropology and sociology. She has a passion for and has written on the topics of gender studies, feminism and gender-based violence. She and Arcaro, professor of sociology, presented comments addressing the topic of “Violence via Social Media.” Al Fadaam, assistant professor of communication design, served as translator.

Though Casner and Arcaro were invited to present specifically on the topic of “online gender-based violence (online GBV),” their comments also addressed the broader issue of the marginalization of racial, ethnic, and religious groups, citing the inherent
intersectionality of online GBV. Their presentation was followed by four other speakers and a short film featuring a young Yazidi survivor of gender-based violence.

In their concluding comments, they noted, “Online SGVB is a major global issue -rooted in toxic othering- that ultimately diminishes all humanity. We all need to listen, learn, and then contribute in any way we are able to address these issues, help to bend the moral arc of the universe toward justice and dignity for all.“

Working with the Al Masala Art Group, the conference organizers requested that Al Fadaam help organize a digital art exhibit for the conference and also act as a judge. The artwork focused on the conference theme and features many powerful images.   is a link to the exhibit Al Fadaam created.

The at this reception or by going to Amazon.com. The proceeds of this book will support a need-based scholarship fund for �þ��� students studying abroad in the future.

Refreshments will be served at the reception 3:30-4:30 p.m.

By Jack Dodson ’12

Human trafficking and slavery — two issues that Kevin Bales suggests are connected but are separate problems — may not be on the list of polling issues this year, but for four researchers, they are critical human rights issues that are more pervasive today than they ever have been.

�þ���’s Periclean Scholars program held a symposium as part of a week-long awareness campaign about human trafficking and contemporary slavery. On April 11, a panel discussed the issues in LaRose Digital Theater, detailing their findings from research and urging a younger generation to take note of the issues and push for an abolishment of the modern slave trade.

The panel included Bales, president of Free the Slaves; Helen Grant, professor and clinical director for Elon’s School of Law; Tony Williams, director of World Relief’s affiliate office in North Carolina; and Richard Smith, a PhD in cultural anthropology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Bales started off the talk, arguing the importance of slavery awareness in the international system. He said there are about 17,000 new slaves in the United States every year — though he pointed out that true numbers are difficult to measure.

“But you can’t actually say that there’s any place without slavery, with the possible exception of Greenland, or Antarctica,” Bales said.

He said contemporary slavery is at the edge of being extinct, pushed to the edge of society beyond laws, but the acknowledgement of its existence, awareness and push to abolish it is limited.

“The resources are so minute considering the size of the problem,” Bales said. “We could make this a slave-free country. It might take a billion or two, but that’s less than the cost of a submarine.”

The panel was part of the Periclean Scholars’ Human Trafficking Awareness Week and was the central event of the week’s activities. On Thursday, April 12, there will be a movie night unveiling student-made videos about human trafficking at 7 p.m. in Irazu, and on Friday, April 13, there will be a benefit concert featuring Elon a capella groups at 7 p.m. in Oaks Commons.

All faculty, staff and students are invited to participate in the Symposium on Human Trafficking. The public is also welcome.
The panelists will take questions after their presentations.

The Symposium starts at 5:00PM with a panel discussion including:
Kevin Bales, President of Free the Slaves,
Helen Grant, Professor and Clinical Director of Elon School of Law
Tony Williams, Director of World Relief’s Affiliate Office in NC
Dr. Richard Smith, PhD in cultural anthropology from the University of California, Santa Barbara

6:30−7:00 Undergraduate Research Poster Session on Human Trafficking (1st Floor KOBC)

Reception with food will be held outside at KOBC Fountain immediately following

First Thursday events are held in West Commons from 4:15-5:00. Light refreshments are served.  All students, staff, and faculty are welcome to come and share their views.

Co-sponsored by Project Pericles and the Office of the Vice President for Student Life. First Thursday topics are suggested by students.