Mark Anner was sitting in a labor union cafeteria in El Salvador when an unknown group set off a bomb. He received 104 stitches in his head, while everyone else sitting at his table was killed.

This was a personal example Anner, an assistant professor of labor studies and political science, used to illustrate extreme worker abuse towards union workers at the Asha for Education Evening of Hope held last night in the Boucke Building.

"Asha for Education is a non-profit dedicated to bringing education to underprivileged children in India," Elody Gyekis, club president said.

The Penn State chapter of Asha for Education is in partnership with Free the Slaves. Asha for Education funds a school in India run by Free the Slaves for about 40 students who used to be child slaves.

The evening included a lecture by Anner, an award ceremony for the winner of the Asha for Education modern slavery essay competition and a screening of the film Dreams Die Hard, a film about people who were forced into slavery in the U.S.

"This is our little start for our mission of letting people know about modern slavery," publicity chair and event coordinator MinSoo Kim said.

Sohayla Rostami, a sophomore at State College Area High School, was the winner of the essay contest.

When Rostami accepted her award she thanked Anner for coming and said, "I think we should all try to help out and make a difference in the world." Anner's lecture discussed different forms of extreme worker abuse and factors that have led to the situation.