Brandon Dean Freshmen Seminar Session 9 Opinion Group Evaluation

What is clear from the information present is that the employment of young people in prostitution rinks is alarming but present. This practice has evolved but at the same time become much more difficult to crack down on. Although comprehensive research to document the number of children engaged in prostitution in the United States is lacking, it is estimated that about 293,000 American youth are currently at risk of becoming victims of commercial sexual exploitation.

The corrupt bargains that extend this lifestyle to young people is one of the most disturbing elements of the research. Other young people are recruited into prostitution through forced abduction, pressure from parents, or through deceptive agreements between parents and traffickers.

We can now conclude that prostitution rinks are out there and that those involved are not necessarily involved by choice.

Among children and teens living on the streets in the United States, involvement in commercial sex activity is a problem of epidemic proportion. Approximately 55% of street girls engage in formal prostitution. The challenge for the select majors was to use their discipline to solve this problem beyond the urging of our law enforcement and government to be more proactive in identify problems there is not much more that was offered as a solution.  Now that we have had such a presentation we must begin to wonder how we fix the problem. The issue has reached the international front making an extermination of the crime much more difficult.  I encourage further exploration of the issue and I expect that Howard Students will be able to contribute in this respect.

Brandon Dean Freshmen Seminar Session 8 Opinion Group Evaluation

HAITI RELIEF

I appreciate the dedication to research on behalf of this group. Their discussion of the tragic events surrounding the Haiti Earthquake provided new insight to the world after the disaster. Out of the efforts to rebuild this ravaged country arose corruption, lawlessness, and deep hurt. Howard University made a substantial contribution to the cause and has been vocal in the aftermath. I encourage this conversation and research to continue as it contributes to the ultimate goal of rebuilding a nation.

“Despite the good intentions of the United States and the world community, weary relief workers say the coming weeks will severely test the resolve of those foreign contributors and the resourcefulness of a Haitian government that remains all but invisible.”

The preceding statement was made shortly after the shock of a large national disaster in Haiti. The earthquake devastation in Haiti earlier this year was devastating with the loss of life, resources, and homes.  The concern presented by the seminar group was centered on the misappropriation of funds raised by various organizations for the relief effort. To date funding remains unaccounted for and withheld with respect to rebuilding the ravished area.  Recovery efforts began immediately following the disaster but little has been done at this point to completely restore the nation to fair conditions. The effect that the relief efforts had economically, socially, politically, and in popular culture are unprecedented. Out of this disaster two hit songs were created by artist Kirk Franklin and a collaboration between America’s A list entertainers.