Event:  VietACT @ Social Change Conference at OSU

Description:  Students and the community are invited to learn about how they can create a positive change in the world this week, as OSU's third annual Social Change Conference takes place on campus. The conference uses tactics including workshops, open mics, music and conversations to inspire and educate students about how they can act to address social issues. "We want to build community among students who want to change the world," said Deb Burke, OSU's Service Learning coordinator and an organizing member of the conference. "We're trying to raise awareness about problems that affect all of us, and that we all have an effect on," said Zach Fairbanks, a member of the student committee that organizes the events that will take place throughout the week. "You have to acknowledge that something is happening before anything can be done about it, we want to bring those problems to attention." Workshops began Monday in the MU and continue through Wednesday at 7 p.m. Workshops and talks are being conducted by both OSU professors and students and scholars from around the world. Topics include racism, hunger, sustainability and social justice. On Thursday, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the MU leadership center, Jessica Rutter, national coordinator of United Against Sweatshops, and Nancy Steffan of the Workers' Rights Consortium, will present about sweatshops and how students can get involved to help OSU be responsible with its business practices. The talk will also include a sweatshop "fashion show." The week's events will culminate on Friday at 5:30 p.m. with the Big Bang Celebration and Reception in the MU Lounge. The reception will include a capoeira demonstration, an open mic, music provided by L.A. Chicano band Quetzal and local musicians Sweater Club. The featured speaker of the event will be Rev. Peter Nguyen Van Hung of the Vietnamese Migrant Workers and Brides Office and the Vietnamese Alliance to Combat Trafficking. Hung is an internationally known activist speaking out against human trafficking for labor and mail-order brides. "Obviously we're not able to address all the problems we see," Fairbanks said. "If we can't offer solutions, we can at least provide alternative ways of doing things to lessen problems." For more information, please visit http://oregonstate.edu/communityservicecenter/socialchangeconf.html

Start Date: 3/3/2006 5:30:00 PM   End Date:  3/3/2006 11:00:00 PM

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