Star Parker told a crowd of about 50 people about her past life of criminal activity, sexual promiscuity and the failures of the welfare system.

She said she eventually turned to faith, broke out of the welfare system and attended college.

Parker, president of the Coalition on Urban Renewal and Education, spoke in an event sponsored by the Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) with community members yesterday about her experiences.

"It is very admirable," Jocelyn Brown (sophomore-earth sciences) said.

"She is willing to go back to this time of her life. It enhances her ability to explain her views," she added.

Parker said the welfare system has created an "environment for illegitimacy."

"It gives you a meager life, shotty schools for your children and prisons waiting for them," Parker said. "That's liberalism in work."

In her speech, Parker outlined five steps that need to be taken to get out of the welfare system.

"She pointed out clearly that there needs to be hard limitations on [welfare] so people can transfer out of it easily," Kelly Keelan, YAF secretary, said.

Time limits and work requirements are needed to develop a work ethic, Parker said.

"The answer to poverty is freedom and personal responsibility," she added.

Parker said there is a need for school vouchers because they will place children in better schools with competition.

Shauna Moser, YAF chairman, said Parker had a great combination of ideas.

"Education is extremely important because, these days, it is the only way to get ahead," she said.

Parker also stressed that people need to be able to save and invest, which is something many people are not capable of under the current Social Security system.

She added that charity, which should always be private and personal, is also important in the process of escaping the welfare system.

"Most people often leave out charity and personal responsibility," Moser said.

Although many members of YAF and the College Republicans attended the speech, Moser said she did not see many new faces.

"They don't want to open their minds to all ideas," she said.

"I wish people would have come to ask difficult questions," Moser added.

Charles Gable, College Republicans staff adviser, also said the crowd was very conservative.

"It would have been better if there were more people on the left side of the aisle," he said.