Tag: Jackson

Student created petition against trafficking gains support

You might not have noticed it, or ever thought anything of it. But when driving on Interstate 94 heading towards Spring Arbor, it’s almost impossible to miss certain billboards that advertise peculiar services.

Bold yellow and pink letters over a solid black background promote an Oriental Health Massage parlor. While seemingly innocent enough, the strange part comes further down the billboard where it says they are conveniently open seven days a week…until 1 am. Many people in the Jackson and Spring Arbor area know this as blatantly promoting human trafficking.

Currently, a petition with over a thousand signatures on it is being enforced through Change.org. When enough people have signed the petition, Michigan Representative Tim Walberg will receive a letter asking him for the removal of these billboards in Jackson.

“Every time I drive on I-94 I’m reminded that Jackson is a safe place for human trafficking,” said Dr. Matthew Hill, Spring Arbor University (SAU) professor of philosophy. “That sign is a physical reminder that the political leaders in the city of Jackson and Jackson county (many of whom claim to be Christian) are too scared or impotent to do anything about such depravity.” Opinions like these were expressed during one of Dr. Hill’s Ethics classes, which actually sparked the idea for the petition in the first place.

Josh Riddick, Lindsey Fluharty, Caleb Smith, Quinn D’Ascenzo, and Nikki Bonnema pursued the idea in Dr. John Hawthorne’s Spirituality, Faith, and Justice course as an “action” project. According to Riddick, his group was struggling to get things done with their other project ideas until the subject of the billboards came up in Ethics class and they decided to do something about it.

While there is currently no lawful proof that human trafficking takes place in these parlors, there has been questionable activity. Senior Lindsey Fluharty, as part of the action project, tried calling the phone number on the billboard to make an appointment, but reported that they wouldn’t let her do it and insisted she should make an appointment “for her husband” instead.

During further research of the subject, it was also discovered that the massage parlor has a profile on “Naughty Reviews.com.” A website who’s tagline is “Find naughty girls near you.” 

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A picture of the parlor’s entrance
In past interviews, SAU sociology professor Jeremy Norwood has said “There is no reason that a massage parlor should be open at 1 a.m.; nobody wants to purchase a massage at 1 a.m.”

At the time of this writing, the student-led petition currently has 1,157 out of the 1,500 signatures needed to continue the petition process. Dr. Hawthorne said he has started introducing the action projects to his class because his students said they “wanted to actually do something.” This is exactly what this group of students is doing, and if others continue to sign the petition, they will be too.

To look at and sign the petition, visit this link

By Nate Bortz

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Seven Micro-Adventures to have in Jackson County

 

Photo by Alexandra
Photo by Alexandra Harper

Stop saying there’s nothing to do on the weekends. I repeat: stop saying there’s nothing to do on the weekends. Now, I grant you, if you have no car, no friends with access to car, and no one to beg, borrow, or steal a car from; your choices are indeed limited. However, the majority of students here have a car, and the majority of those who do not can con a ride occasionally.

I’m sorry, you say, but there’s nothing to do: I’ve been to Aka, to JCo, City Crepes, and Target…there really is nowhere else to go. It’s a lie, don’t buy it. And on that note, how can you afford all that? I’ve spent four years in this county looking for its wildest and least expensive parts and though I’m no native, I’ll reveal a few Jackson micro-adventures that I’ve particularly enjoyed.

A man with the impressive name of Alastair Humphreys recently coined the term “micro-adventure,” the premise is easy: hypothetically you work a 9 to 5 job (with even a little more lenience on a college schedule), so what are you doing with the other 16 hours? The 5 to 9? Why aren’t you filling it with a myriad of memorable and spontaneous adventures that celebrate where you live and the fact that you are alive? Humphreys advocates taking these micro-adventures wherever you can and whenever you’re willing. Camp in your nearest woods. Sleep in a bivvy bag by the expressway. Go discover all you can. (If you’re hesitant of the legality of any of this, read his post here.)

So where can you micro-adventure in Jackson. Well thank you for asking, please let me give you a few options and as you adventure, feel free and tell me your own. After all, I still have a few 5 to 9’s and weekends before I graduate.

A LIST OF EXCITING, RIVETING & COMPLETELY UNDERRATED MICRO-ADVENTURES IN JACKSON COUNTY, MICHIGAN

  • 5 a.m. Hinkley’s run.

    Everyone loves hot doughnuts in the morning. However, few are brave enough to have hot Hinkley’s doughnuts in the very early morning. This is a fun one to kidnap a friend or partner for. In fact, the day I did it, I drove up to my boyfriend’s house, called him at 5 a.m. said to come outside and get in the car, handed him hot tea and then we drove to Hinkleys right when they opened (through a minor blizzard) to get Michigan’s best doughnuts at their best time.

  • The Dahlem Conservancy.

    Located just between Jackson and Horton, this nearby ecological non-profit has trails perfect for spontaneous walks, bird-watching, or just general nature-doings. Or look at their schedule for chances to take a bee-keeping class, go moonlight skiing, or an evening woodcock walk.

  • Geocache Jackson. Geocaching is treasure-hunting where the treasure is a little notebooks and trinkets like plastic army men and your iphone is your map. Download the Geocache app and you will find a plethora of tiny dots telling you where little surprises  are hidden (even on campus) it’s an underground network you never knew existed.
  • Ella Sharp Sites.

    Ella Sharp was a pretty impressive gal. Learn what all the hubbub was by going to one of the many sites that are named after her, whether you are sledding on Ella Sharp hill, looking at a nationally-acclaimed art exhibit in the Ella Sharp museum (all donation) or learning about her life in the Ella Sharp historical house. (Bonus: the Ella Sharp museum does inexpensive art classes, such as pottery throwing and figure drawing for those who want to flex an artistic muscle.)

  • Visit the nuns.

    A half-hour away in Rives Junction is the Dormition Romanian Orthodox Monastery—if you’re interested in experiencing both a different culture (Romanian) and denomination (Eastern Orthodoxy) attend Divine Liturgy (Saturday 9 a.m. Sunday 10 a.m.) if you feel out of you comfort zone, know it’s good for you, also know the only thing you’re expected to do is sit or stand without causing a ruckus. (Pro tip: stay after liturgy for a complimentary meal put on by the nuns—it’s worth it.)

  • Explore the fitness trail.

    If you think this is too close to home to be an adventure, then you’re missing out. Going off-road on the fitness trail is fantastic fun—there are great climbing trees behind Mt. Beebe, deer trails through the thickets, and people have even been known to camp out there. Is it allowed? I have no idea, but they’ve done it.

  • Do it Humphrey’s way.

    What is Alastair Humphrey’s suggestion on finding a great place to have a micro-adventure? Pack a sleeping bag/bivvy bag, find a map (preferably with topography), find the most remote and topographically interesting area. Go there. Sleep there outside. Say sorry if you’re caught on someone’s land. Never leave trash.

“I have a choice, the same choice that faces every man. I can live a frivolous life, trying to impress others with the house I live in, the clothes I wear, the car I drive. I can strive to be a success in the way of the world, seeking the admiration of others, reveling in their jealousy…I can complain about boredom, as if it were up to those around me to inject excitement into my day. These are the patterns of the living dead, people who have forsaken life, who are willing to squander their most precious gift, because they refuse to face up to the reality of death. If they wanted to live, truly wanted to live, they would rise up in a resurrection of their own making and commit themselves to the life they have.”
– Richard Bode. Beachcombing at Miramar 

By Alexandra Harper