04/05/12 jgm

HAYS, Kan. -- Three speakers -- U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom, Dr. John Corvino, and General Vic Braden -- will highlight the Center for Civic Leadership at Fort Hays State University civic engagement activities for the month of April.

U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom was nominated by President Barack Obama in April 2010 and confirmed in August 2010 to be U.S. Attorney in the District of Kansas. Grissom will present "Human Trafficking: A Federal Perspective."

There will be two opportunities to attend the presentation -- 7:30p.m. Monday, April 9, in Stouffer Lounge and 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 10, in Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center. Both sessions are free and open to the campus community and the general public.

According to the Kansas Attorney General, human trafficking is the criminal activity of holding another person for the purposes of exploitation through forced labor and sex trafficking. Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery and is the second-largest and fastest-growing criminal industry in the world.

The U.S. Department of State estimates that 17,500 foreign nationals are trafficked into the United States every year. The number of U.S. citizens trafficked within our country is even higher. American children are in the greatest danger, with an estimated 200,000 at risk of sexual exploitation every year.

In Kansas, reports of human trafficking are increasing and are being seen with children as young as 11. Kansas ranks 30 in the country at efforts to stop human trafficking and lags behind other states in legislation and resources for victims.

Dr. John Corvino will present "Haters, Sinners, and the Rest of Us: The Gay Debate" at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 17, in the Black and Gold Room of the Memorial Union.

Dr. Corvino holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin and is currently Associate Professor of Philosophy at Wayne State. An award-winning teacher, he is also the recipient of a 2004 Spirit of Detroit Award from the Detroit City Council for his work on behalf of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender rights.

For over 15 years, he has been traveling the country speaking on moral subjects. Combining philosophical rigor with sensitivity and humor, he challenges various factions to rethink easy assumptions about sexuality and morality.

In addition to sexual ethics, LGBT rights and the culture wars, Corvino's research interests include business ethics and the existence of God. His writing has appeared in regional and national periodicals, at the online Independent Gay Forum, and in dozens of academic venues, including the anthologies "Do We Need Minority Rights, Ethics in Practice" and "ThePhilosophy of Sex" and the journals "The Gay and Lesbian Review Worldwide," "The Journal of Business Ethics," "Business Ethics Quarterly," and "Ethics".

General Vic Braden will present "Age of Trail: The Militaryin a World of Global and Generational Chaos" at 7 p.m. in Cody Commons. Braden will be giving insight into the military's role in a chaotic environment in which economic, cultural, political, religious and social issues are entwined. He will also be on campus all day.

Braden supervises the Kansas Attorney General's Criminal Litigation Division and has more than 31 years of military service. Braden first joined the attorney general's office in 2006 and has practiced law for 13 years. An experienced criminal prosecutor, Braden also serves as a brigadier general in the KansasNational Guard. He recently returned from a deployment in southern Afghanistan.

April 9 and 10: Global Leadership Project will host TOMS' One Day Without Shoes. Screening of the TOMS documentary, "For Tomorrow: The TOMS Shoes Story"and painting t-shirts at 8:30 on April 9 in Cody Commons. One Day Without Shoes Barefoot March to the Union will begin at 11:45 a.m. from Beach/Schmidt Performing Acts Center on April 10. There will be an information table set up in front of the Unior from noon to 2 p.m.

April11: Finding Common Ground: "Kony 2012, the Country, the People" sponsored by the American Democracy Project and Union for Humans, Animals and the Environment will be 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the Forsyth Library lobby.

April 12: $tart $mart $alary Negotiation Workshop, sponsored by AAUW, Women's Leadership Project, Center for Civic Leadership, Office of the Provost, FHSU Graduate School, Career Services, Science & Mathematics Education Institute, Center for Student Involvement, and University Activities Board will be from 4 to 9 p.m. in the Stouffer Lounge. The workshop willprovide women the confidence, knowledge and skills to negotiate salaries and earn fair compensation.

April 16: CCL and Forsyth Library food drive is sponsored by American Democracy Project, Global Leadership Project and Tigers in Service. Can goods can be dropped off at Forsyth Library.

"Mother: Caringfor 7 Billion," a documentary shedding light on the controversial issue of population growth and humanities most pressing social and environmental problems, will begin at 6 p.m. in Cody Commons. The documentary is sponsored by American Democracy Project.

April 19: Mock Presidential Election sponsored by American Democracy Projectfrom 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Memorial Union lobby and Forsyth Library

April 20: Forsyth Library Community Garden ground breaking will be Friday, April 20. Volunteers will celebrate Earth Day by building FHSU's second community garden next to ForsythLibrary.

April 20 to 22: Global Youth Service Day and Earth Day Weekend Event sponsored by Tigers in Service.

April 27: "No Cars on the Quad" Day will be Friday,April 27. In an effort to reduce FHSU's carbon footprint, faculty, staff and students are encouraged to consider riding their bikes or walking to class. If driving is a must, then they are encouraged to park in the lot by Gross Memorial Coliseum and walk to class leaving the lots around the outer quad empty to show FHSU's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.

"Cans For Kenya" will be an on-going effort throughout April to collect aluminum cans to raise money for a school in Kenya. The money raised from recycling thecans will purchase pigs that will help the school practice more sustainable feeding methods. Aluminum cans can be brought to the Memorial Union through Sunday, April 29.

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