Optimist
  • News
  • Pessimist
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Features
    • Book Review
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Police Log
  • Print Edition
  • Projects
  • Classifieds
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
You are here: Home / News / Students stand for 27 hours to raise slavery awareness

Students stand for 27 hours to raise slavery awareness

March 6, 2013 by Linsey Thut

A group of ACU students brought awareness to the “End It Movement” by participating in the national Stand for Freedom event Monday and Tuesday.

The “End It Movement” is sponsored by the International Justice Mission to bring awareness to the 27 million people currently in slavery, a record-breaking number according to enditmovement.com.

College kids across the nation took a “Stand for Freedom” by standing for a combined total of 27 hours and getting students to sign petitions.

Megan Thurman, freshman youth and family ministry and missions major from Cedar Park, decided to bring the event to ACU’s campus after she learned of the issue at the Passion Christian Youth Conference in Atlanta. Thurman and the hundreds of other college students that attended were introduced to victims of human trafficking.

“You hear 27 million and you’re like, ‘Ok that’s just a huge number’,” said Thurman. “But whenever you actually just meet one girl, and hear her story, you realize it does exist.”

She and other ACU students teamed up with students at Hardin-Simmons University to complete the Stand for Freedom event.  On Monday and Tuesday, ACU students stood in the Campus Center for a total of 13 hours.  On Wednesday and Thursday, Hardin-Simmons students will stand for the remaining 13 hours to bring awareness to the cause. Together, they will stand for 27 total hours for the 27 million.

“I’m just hoping to get enough awareness out there to where more people will be interested in taking part in ending it,” said Thurman.

Each year students participating in this event gather signatures for a petition that is sent to President Obama.  Thurman said last year a total of 73,124 signatures were gathered, causing Obama to make the longest speech on slavery since Abraham Lincoln.

Jenni Collings, freshman business management and pre-law major from Antioch, Ill. and participant of the Stand for Freedom event, has already received good feedback from ACU students.

“Everyone’s been really excited to help in such an easy way,” Collings said.

The students will be hosting a concert April 9 in hopes of raising $2,700 for the IJM Missions to aid in freeing slaves.

Thurman said she is excited to see how she and her fellow students can help.

“I hope we can all say we took a stand,” Thurman said.  “We fought together to shine a light on slavery, to bring justice, and to be a voice for those who have no voice.”

Students can still sign the petition online at www.IJM.org/stand. Donations can be made by searching “Abilene” at www.IJMfreedom.org.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: IJM

Other News:

  • Picking a prize-winning theme: Directors on deliberate on skills, music and past inspiration

  • Smilin’ Bob: Remembering the life and legacy of Dr. Robert ‘Bob’ Hunter

  • Gamma Sigma Phi, Kirk Goodwin Run fundraise for Parmelly following leukemia diagnosis

About Linsey Thut

You are here: Home / News / Students stand for 27 hours to raise slavery awareness

Other News:

  • Picking a prize-winning theme: Directors on deliberate on skills, music and past inspiration

  • Smilin’ Bob: Remembering the life and legacy of Dr. Robert ‘Bob’ Hunter

  • Gamma Sigma Phi, Kirk Goodwin Run fundraise for Parmelly following leukemia diagnosis

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
16 Feb

Black Student Union, the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion have joined together to plan events that educate others and provide celebrations during Black History Month. Read more:
https://acuoptimist.com/2023/02/black-history-month-events-educate-celebrate-acu-community/

Reply on Twitter 1626340622872285184 Retweet on Twitter 1626340622872285184 Like on Twitter 1626340622872285184 2 Twitter 1626340622872285184
acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
11 Feb

BREAKING: Robert D. “Bob” Hunter, vice president emeritus, passed away Saturday. Hunter served as a representative of the 71st district of Texas and worked part time with ACU until 2013.

Reply on Twitter 1624540404690436097 Retweet on Twitter 1624540404690436097 4 Like on Twitter 1624540404690436097 23 Twitter 1624540404690436097

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

1 week ago

The Optimist
BREAKING NEWS: Dr. Charles Wadlington, associate professor of psychology, was arrested Wednesday on allegations of sexual abuse of a child. Read more: ... See MoreSee Less

Professor arrested on allegations of sexual abuse of a child - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

Dr. Charles Wadlington, associate professor of psychology, was arrested Wednesday on allegations of sexual abuse of a child. Wadlington has been charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child, appare...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

1 week ago

The Optimist
FilmFest, a student short film festival designed to give students who are interested in film production access to a creative outlet, will host its 19th annual FilmFest Gala April 14 at the Paramount Theatre. Read more: ... See MoreSee Less

FilmFest prepares to take the big screen - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

FilmFest, a student short film festival designed to give students who are interested in film production access to a creative outlet, will host it’s 19th annual FilmFest Gala April 14 at the Paramoun...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Optimist Newscast Feb. 22, 2023

Our top stories this week include the passing of Dr. Bob Hunter, a new endowment ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 8, 2023
  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 1, 2023
  • Optimist Newscast Jan. 25, 2023

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • Podcasts

© 2023 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved