By Nicole June

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Officials at Austin Peay State University (APSU) this week received reports of human trafficking at the school that turned out to be solicitations from a religious group known as “God the Mother.”

On Wednesday, Oct. 24, Campus Police received several phone calls and inquiries through LiveSafe about a group on campus soliciting students.

According to an email sent to students and faculty by APSU, some of the inquiries indicated the group was a human trafficking ring.

Campus Police investigated these reports by interviewing the individuals soliciting on campus and found no evidence that this is a human trafficking ring.

“The group soliciting is affiliated with a religious group called God the Mother, and their solicitation was religious in nature,” the email said. “This group was informed that they are not allowed to solicit on the APSU campus unless they are following university policy and asked to leave campus. However, this does not exclude the group from soliciting from public areas, such as city sidewalks.”

Campus police contacted the FBI about this incident as a precaution, requesting additional information about the group, according to the email.

Campus Police listed a news article from Oberlin College’s newspaper, The Oberlin Review, that describes solicitation similar to what happened at APSU.

APSU asks students to review the following safety precautions:

o Immediately report suspicious people loitering around university facilities.
o If you become the victim of a crime, do not try to physically detain or apprehend the suspect. Report the incident immediately to the APSU Police Department at 911 or 931-221-7786.
o Always walk, jog or bike in groups in well-lit and well-traveled areas. You can request an escort from the APSU Police Department.
o Scan the area before you exit or approach your vehicle/building and when you proceed between sites.
o Have your key/access card ready in hand to quickly access the door of your vehicle/building.
o If strangers approach you, maintain a distance and be observant. If they are in a vehicle, get the license plate number, if possible.
o Lock doors and windows of your room/building. Do not prop open doors or let strangers inside.