Re-Thinking Prostitution in Bryan

*Warning: Responsible, constructive discussion of mature content to follow*

Problems are bigger, more complicated, and more intractable than they seem. That seems to be a lesson that I am continually learning. Even in comfortable College Station, huge societal ills are right in among us.

This past summer, I did an internship that helped to launch an anti-sex trafficking initiative, and I did weeks of research on the connections between sex trafficking, prostitution, and pornography. It’s not a pretty picture.

One of the main lessons I took away was the knowledge that commercial sexual exploitation happens everywhere, in every major town, whenever a supply of desperate people meets a demand for commercial sex. So when I got back to Texas A&M, I wanted to find out what’s going on here in Bryan/College Station, in terms of prostitution and sex trafficking. For some reason, I somehow assumed that my summer’s experience would give me some knowledge that I could use to solve some gaping hole in current policy. The reality was far from being that clear-cut.

A quick search for “prostitution” and trafficking in local news outlets yielded multiple stories of police busts for prostitution, and a few for human trafficking. Just like everywhere else, it turns out that College Station has a craigslist section entitled “adult services”, a weak pseudonym for prostitution. I emailed several police officers from the Bryan and College Station Police Departments, asking for interviews and information, and got several quick responses. One officer on the Neighborhood Enforcement Team in the Bryan PD was particularly helpful. We arranged for a meeting.

As it turns out, prostitution in Bryan is a complex story of drugs, immigration, poverty, and a thousand other societal factors. Most prostituted women are impoverished, middle-aged souls addicted to crack cocaine, desperate for that next rock. As the Bryan police officers pointed out: “this is not Vegas”, and the prostitutes are not a pretty picture. Most of the “johns” (sex buyers) are Hispanic men, who are first or second generation immigrants. They may be far from wives and families, and prostitution in Mexico doesn’t carry the same cultural stigma that it does in the United States. The police do conduct occasional busts, but the women involved are already caught in the nasty cycle of poverty and addiction, and the simple instrument of law enforcement cannot bring transformation, restoration or healing.

Poverty and drugs are just the most salient features of a deeper, swirling web of issues. Prostitution is closely related to the break-down of the family, sexual stereotypes, police paradigms and methods, the history of drugs in the United States, immigration patterns, human trafficking, racial issues, cultural norms, and the huge demand for pornography in the United States and the world over.

Right now, I’m still digesting the huge amount of information that I just received about my own town. Eventually, I need to come to grips with the reality of what’s happening, formulate a transformative perspective, and think through some next steps.

For right now, I am just re-learning this valuable lesson: issues are always deeper than they seem.

Remember, Remember

"And then it all went up in flames..."

Bonfire. This year marks the centennial anniversary of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Bonfire. What began as a trash heap in 1909 grew into a massive wedding cake design, which at its tallest stood 109 feet, 10 inches. Bonfire symbolized A&M’s burning desire to beat the hell out of t.u. It was a task of a monstrous size instituted and executed almost entirely by students over the course of a near-century. It brought to together the Corps of Cadets, non-regs, residential halls, men, and women to build this monument to Aggie dedication and fervor. Bonfire became emblematic of Aggieland and held a meaning greater than just the desire to win a football game. It symbolized the Aggie spirit and a dedication and drive for building something greater than ourselves. Those who saw it burn on campus have said there was nothing like it. The heat and flame was so much that it even burned their shadows into the ground. Those who built it can attest to the sheer amount of strength and manpower it took to construct a project of that size and magnitude. It was absolutely incredible. As we mark the 100th year anniversary of this tradition, we also mark the 10 year anniversary since the collapse. 2009 is a bittersweet year for the tradition of Bonfire. On November 18, 1999 at 2:42 AM, the history of the Aggie Bonfire changed forever. The stack collapsed and taking with it the lives of 12 Aggies. It stunned the campus, the state of Texas, and the entire nation. No one ever considered that the stack might ever fall and if it did, that it would take the lives of those who put their blood, sweat, and tears into it.

The Aggie Community did not miss the significance of the loss of exactly 12 Aggies. The number 12 is particular important to Texas A&M as a referral to the 12^th Man. We all know the story of E. King Gill and his willingness to stand at the ready for when his team needed him. His sportsmanship and spirit of giving is carried on by all Aggies at football games, who stand at the ready in case our team might need us. The 12^th man is what Aggieland stands for. Which leads me to talk about Timothy Doran Kerlee, Jr. Tim Kerlee was on the stack when it fell the night of the 18^th. When the stack fell, Tim’s pelvis was crushed, his arm was broken, and there was massive damage to his internal organs. But instead of allowing emergency workers and the rescue team to remove him from the stack, Tim told them that he had a better vantage point for seeing other injured students. The rescuers were directed to five other wounded students before Tim allowed them to remove him from the stack. He went into emergency surgery, lived long enough to bid goodbye to his parents before he passed away. Tim Kerlee was the 12^th and final Aggie to be taken by the Bonfire tragedy. He was a hero in every way and I am immensely proud of the fact that I share the same school as this young man who epitomized selfless service and Aggie values right down to his last breath. As Aggies, we should strive to be more like Tim Kerlee.

As for the fate of Bonfire, Lord knows what’s going to happen. Governor Rick Perry has suggested that Bonfire will be returning to campus within the next few years. Of course, he’s Governor of Texas, not President of Texas A&M University so his opinion is rather moot. There is an open and active student interest in getting Bonfire back on campus. As for me, I would love to see Bonfire return to campus but I understand why it does not. It is a huge liability for the University and no one ever wants a repeated tragedy. But in the mean time while this is all being decided, I hope that people take a moment to look back on what Bonfire means to us. It means dedication, perseverance, and firm resolve. It also means tears, tragedy, and maybe even hope. In moving forward in the history of Bonfire and of the University, we shouldn’t forget to look back and to remember.

I wanted to share the poem called “The Last Corps Trip.” Traditionally read before the lighting of Bonfire, it now adorns the memorial to those who lost their lives in the 1999 collapse. It is emblematic of Aggieland and for me personally, it reminds me of all the things I love about this place.

THE LAST CORPS TRIP

By P.H. DuVal, Jr., Class of 1951

It was Judgment Day in Aggieland
And tenseness filled the air;
All knew there was a trip at hand,
But not a soul knew where.

Assembled on the drill field
Was the world-renowned Twelfth Man,
The entire fighting Aggie team
And the famous Aggie Band.

And out in front with Royal Guard
The reviewing party stood;
St. Peter and his angel staff
Were choosing bad from good.

First he surveyed the Aggie team
And in terms of an angel swore,
"By Jove, I do believe I've seen
This gallant group before.

I've seen them play since way back when,
And they've always had the grit;
I've seen 'em lose and I've seen 'em win
But I've never seen 'em quit.

No need for us to tarry here
Deciding upon their fates;
Tis plain as the halo on my head
That they've opened Heaven's gates."

And when the Twelfth Man heard this,
They let out a mighty yell
That echoed clear to Heaven
And shook the gates of Hell.

"And what group is this upon the side,"
St. Peter asked his aide,
"That swelled as if to burst with pride
When we our judgment made?"

"Why, sir, that's the Cadet Corps
That's known both far and wide
For backing up their fighting team
Whether they won lost or tied."

"Well, then," said St. Peter,
"It's very plain to me
That within the realms of Heaven
They should spend eternity.

And have the Texas Aggie Band
At once commence to play
For their fates too we must decide
Upon this crucial day."

And the drum major so hearing
Slowly raised his hand
And said, "Boys, let's play The Spirit
For the last time in Aggieland."

And the band poured forth the anthem,
In notes both bright and clear
And ten thousand Aggie voices
Sang the song they hold so dear.

And when the band had finished,
St. Peter wiped his eyes
And said, "It's not so hard to see
They're meant for Paradise."

And the colonel of the Cadet Corps said
As he stiffly took his stand,
"It's just another Corps Trip, boys,
We'll march in behind the band."

Service: A Core Value of President Obama and Texas A&M

Last Friday Texas A&M University had the honor of hosting President Obama. We rearranged our bus schedules, closed buildings and streets, and even sent the campus landscaping guys on a last minute quest to beautify all of the trees, bushes, and flower beds surrounding Rudder Auditorium (seriously, did anybody see those guys on Thursday afternoon? It was like a giant swarm of pruning shears had descended upon central campus!).

Honestly, when I first heard President Obama would be making a visit to Aggieland, I was more than a little worried. I cringed and recalled the infamous "Anti-Obama Carnival" of last October. If a small group of students can stir up such a huge mess of negative publicity , what would those same students do when actually sharing their hometown with the man whose photograph they threw eggs at?

(Source - more pictures at this link)

But this time, it wasn't about politics. It wasn't about the economy, or foreign policy, or health care. Instead, Preisdent Obama was here to speak about volunteerism, a cause that draws us all together. The President's visit was about serving others, something the Aggie family holds near and dear to our hearts. In fact, "Selfless Service" is a tradition here at A&M. It's one of our five Core Values, and it's the meaning behind one of the five stars on our Aggie Rings. Even the Cornerstone Program cites a "service component" as part of its purpose.

Sometimes Texas A&M gets criticized for sticking to our traditions. We get called "closed-minded" or "stuck in our ways." Admittedly, I was once wary of the tradition and apparent "brainwashing" as well, but after two and a half years as a student, and two years as a Fish Camp counselor, I'm here to tell you that at Texas A&M, our traditions are meaningful. Tradition in Aggieland is about something bigger than ourselves, and I'm proud to be a student at a school that teaches much more than academics.

I could cite many examples of this, but (in order to prevent this blog post from being way too long for any sane person to read) today I'd just like to talk about a tradition called Big Event.

(Source)

Big Event was started in 1982, and has been going strong ever since. As the country's largest one-day, student-run service project, Big Event allows Aggies to make a giant impact on our community, and to say "Thank You" for the support we get from Bryan/College Station residents.

One of my past Big Event groups, what a great way to serve our community!

Students can sign up individually, with friends, or with an organization. Last year over 12,500 students worked on over 1,200 projects (painting, landscaping, cleaning, etc.). Big Event is expecting around 14,000 students and 1,500 projects for the next Big Event, happening March 27, 2010.

Amazing traditions like Big Event embody the Texas A&M Core Value of "Selfless Service," and make me proud to be an Aggie. I'll leave you with a couple of quotes about Big Event from the Points of Light event President Obama spoke at last Friday:

I know this is one of countless ways Texas A&M is performing selfless service, and I know that is why President (George H. W.) Bush chose this outstanding university for his library.

-President Obama

I salute Mallory Myers and Big Event, a wonderful program exemplifying selfless service, as does the entire student body of Texas A&M.

-Former President Bush

Obama Wins the Nobel Peace Prize

Here's the Batt article on the story, if you want to check it out:

http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2009/10/09/News/Obama.Wins.Nobel.Peace.Prize-3799151.shtml

Peace Prize Pause...

One of the hallmarks of the Cornerstone Program is excellent thought. Cornerstoners generally enjoy thinking about many subjects, in a broad manner, to an extraordinary depth. Deep learning and insight require mental pause, a extended moment of suspended judgment in which careful thought is applied to the subject.

President Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize is an opportunity for such a pause. On October 9th, he was named the 2009 recipient of perhaps the most prestigious humanitarian award in the world. Our reaction could easily become simply a polarizing reflection of our general political leaning. Liberals laud their hero for his example. Conservatives write-off the event as laughably premature.

However, a moment of pause can be beneficial for deeper understanding, no matter who you are. A Nobel Peace Prize is an incredibly significant event, especially since it has just been given to an American president barely into his first term. No matter what your interpretation, Obama's honor probably has more to teach you than what your gut reaction tells you.

Conservatives can start by considering the fact that the international community is really and truly taken by the diplomatic style of our president. U.S. foreign policy since Theodore Roosevelt has often earned resentment for America. No matter which way you look at it, the fact is that American government is perceived as over-confident, presumptuous, and eager to project its immense economic and military power. Do we accomplish good things with that power? Most certainly. Do we cause terrible catastrophes with that same power? The historical evidence says "yes".

You may not think Obama's strategy of re-engaging in diplomatic discussion is the way to accomplish change. Yet he is certainly earning us some friends. War is not going away anytime soon, but it seems logical to assume that discussion can lower its incidence. I think we have something to learn from President Obama's example.

On the other hand, liberals may find insight in the words of Obama's detractors. The cry is, of course: "What has he done?" Obama swept into office in a tide of euphoria about change and hope for the American political process. He is eloquent. He is visionary. But stay in the real world, people. Everyone has weaknesses, and everyone has limits. Words truly are not enough. The socioeconomic and political factors that lead to war are universally complex and intractable. From a long-term historical perspective, Obama's accomplished solutions thus far are truly modest.

Come now, let's reason together. We all have a lot to learn. Including me.

the beginning.

The first time I ever stepped foot on the Texas A&M campus I knew that I could never go to school anywhere else.  I was a freshman in high school.  I knew nothing about universities or majors or academics or tradition.  But I was head over heels in love with this place purely by the way I felt when I first saw campus.  I loved Kyle Field and the fact that they kept score outside for just for Reveille.  I loved cadets telling me “howdy” on campus.  I loved the grass, the trees, the MSC, and all the maroon.  But most of all, I loved the feeling of it all, the feeling of being a part of something bigger and better than myself.  I wanted to be a part of that tradition that makes Texas A&M so unique.  I wanted to be an Aggie and luckily, I got my wish. 

When the time came for me to apply to college, I applied to other schools.  But I knew that not coming to A&M wasn’t an option.  The day I got my acceptance letter, I ran screaming and crying through my house.  My mother, honest to God, thought that the house was on fire or somebody had been shot in the front yard.  But no, it was only her firstborn child yelling at the top of her lungs about being able to go to the college of her choice.  It was one of the happiest moments of my life.   

I received an invitation to attend Cornerstone Day in probably February.  And I distinctly remember thinking “just what in the world is Cornerstone?”  So I asked my college advisor.  She didn’t know either but suggested I attend as a fact-finding mission.  I suppose that was as good of reason as any to go.  So I went and like everybody else I was hooked line and sinker by the international trip.  Because who doesn’t want to go on an overseas trip that is subsidized by the University?  And truly, I kid you not, that trip will be the best time of your life.  You will wish that you could rewind time and do that trip over and over again. 

But looking back now, I can see that the trip wasn’t the only reason I joined Cornerstone.  In a school of 45,000, it is very easy to get lost in the shuffle.  I found a place where I can be heard, where I have a face, a name, and a voice.  I have a group of people who are like me, who share similar interests along with a passion and love of learning.  I love all the people that I have met in Cornerstone and there truly is never a dull moment with any of them.  To me, that was the most important and best thing about joining Cornerstone.  I am grateful everyday that I was given this opportunity to pursue excellence in the College of Liberal Arts 

So.   It is with a great amount of pride and pleasure that I am able to introduce myself as thus…HOWDY!  My name is Kathryn Sinclair and I’m a sophomore History major from Houston, Texas!  But mostly importantly, I am the loudest and proudest member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Class of 2012!  A-A-A-A-A! 

Thanks and Gig ‘Em. 

Happy Birthday Texas A&M!

133 years ago today, Texas A&M opened its doors for the very first time. Let's take a look at how far we've come since then...

1876:
Students: 40 white Texan men
Faculty Members: 6
Name: Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas
Academics: Agriculture, Engineering, Military Science
Former Students: 0
Student Organizations: The Corps of Cadets (required)

Today:
Students: 48,000+ men and women from all 50 states and 130 different countries
Faculty Members: 2,800+
Name: Texas A&M University
Academics: 10 colleges, including the College of Liberal Arts!
Former Students: 280,000+
Student Organizations: More than 800 organizations covering just about everything!

Happy Birthday Texas A&M!

If you're in College Station, stop by Academic Plaza today for some birthday cake. The cake isn't shaped like Kyle Field, but check out this amazing Kyle Field wedding cake!

(source)

Thanks to Texas A&M's Traditions Council for all the fun facts!