Creighton students weigh in on human trafficking - Resilience & Relationships (R&R) - Stephanie Olson and Rebecca Saunders

Creighton students weigh in on human trafficking - Resilience & Relationships (R&R) - Stephanie Olson and Rebecca Saunders

How do people manage co-occurring mental and physical health issues while recovering? This conversation zooms in on a different but closely linked topic: human trafficking, vulnerability, and how young adults can respond. Host Stephanie Olson, alongside Rebecca Saunders, chats through real, unfiltered video questions from Creighton University’s Students Against Trafficking group. Instead of a dry lecture, you’ll hear the two react to student clips in real time, praising sharp observations and gently correcting common myths.

Right away, they clear up who is at risk. One student mentions young women and children, and Stephanie adds that, in reality, “everyone can be vulnerable to trafficking… males, also senior citizens, also older adults.” They unpack the idea that trafficking is usually kidnapping from car parks, explaining that “the majority of trafficked individuals know their trafficker before they are ever trafficked” and that much of the grooming starts online through social media, gaming and even within families.

The episode also puts a spotlight on Nebraska, challenging the belief that rural states are somehow safer. A student calls Omaha a hub because of its highways, and Stephanie agrees, adding that the mindset of “this won’t happen here” makes communities easy to exploit. For anyone wondering what to look for, Rebecca and Stephanie talk through signs such as controlling partners, limited freedom, and people who seem hyper-submissive rather than obviously “trying to escape”.

They stress that trafficked people might be going to school, getting good grades, and still being exploited at night. The pair finish by walking through practical steps to report concerns, including state and national hotlines, and why you should respect an adult victim’s wishes about calling police. If you care about safety, recovery, or work with young people, this one might change how you see your campus and community—what warning signs might you be missing right in front of you?