Last Thursday evening, hundreds of students participated in the annual Take Back The Night rally. The nationwide event intends to create awareness about sexual violence and hear voices of survivors or rape and sexual assault.
“This is not a political demonstration, although we hope to create awareness about sexual assault that is happening in our community,” said march organizer Veronica Slaght ’07 at the start of the program.
Take Back The Night is an international rally started in the late 1970s to protest rape and other sexual violence against women. The title is meant to symbolize every woman’s right to move freely during the day and night, without any fear of being harassed or assaulted. In some places, the march is exclusively for women and children.
This restriction is not observed at Wesleyan. Not only are male students encouraged to attend the event, the University’s program also acknowledges the fact that men are often the victims of sexual violence.
“We try to be as inclusive as possible,” Slaght said.
Many female students found it necessary for male students to be included in the rally.
“I think it’s good that they hear these stories,” said Marie Brophy ’08. “It shows that they are on our side.”
Another student mentioned the level of awareness stemming from Take Back The Night.
“It is important for guys to attend this event, because some of them do not realize what they did was wrong and hurtful,” said Melanie Cherng ’08.
“I feel it’s important for me and for other guys to know these things, so we can treat our women better,” said Glaister Leslie ’08.
Besides creating awareness, another important aim of the event is to hear the stories of the survivors. Students who spoke during the event highlighted the prevalence of acquaintance rape, which is rarely reported.
According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, 80 percent of rape victims know their assailants. Most rapists also do not realize what they committed were rapes, which stresses the significance of informing the community about what constitutes sexual violence.
“We take back the night because everyone deserves to be safe, and we will continue to march each year until everyone is,” Slaght said.
After Cardinal Sinners’ rendition of The Nields’ “I Know What Kind of Love This Is,” the students marched from Olin Library to the Butterfield Courtyard, where they formed their first Speakout Circle.
This first circle was reserved for female and transgendered survivors to come forward and share their stories.
The all-female a capella group Onomatopoeia performed Tori Amos’ “Me and A Gun” at the first circle.
From the Butterfield courtyard, the march continued to the North College Lawn for the second Speakout Circle. The program ended in the CFA Courtyard, where 83 students held a candlelight vigil.
Post-event discussions were facilitated by the Resident Advisors and Wesleyan Diversity Education Facilitators (WesDEFs) in Hewitt 9, Clark, 200 Church, Womanist House, and Butt C. Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis counselors also attended and were available for students throughout the march.
Womanist House served brownies and cookies for participants, Psi U served drinks, and DKE served cold drinks, cookies, and shrimp cocktail.
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