Bye Bye, Sarah -

[joelnwil]

The point about saying "affect change" is that it is an improper use of the word, although I was nice enough to give a possible interpretation. But the English language gets badly messed up on a regular basis, and she is hardly the only one who forgot what she may (or may not) have learned in the 8th grade. Maybe she took the day off to shoot something when they discussed that.

effect:

–verb (used with object)
10.to produce as an effect; bring about; accomplish; make happen: The new machines finally effected the transition to computerized accounting last spring.

affect:

–verb (used with object)
1.to act on; produce an effect or change in: Cold weather affected the crops.
2.to impress the mind or move the feelings of: The music affected him deeply.
3.(of pain, disease, etc.) to attack or lay hold of.

So to affect change is to act on change in some way, not bring it about. Unless you want 2 or 3.

It is just a matter of literacy.