Students rally to ‘Take Back the Night’

"We have the power, we have the right; the streets are ours, take back the night."

Five hundred ten people marched from the Putt/Delaney courtyard, past the library, around northern toward Folger and down to the Memorial Field House Wednesday night at the 19th annual Take Back the Night.

They chanted, held up signs, and some even marched in silence to show victim and survivor support and to protest sexual violence.

"One, two, three four, this is what we're fighting for! Five, six, seven, eight, no more violence, no more rape!"

After the march, students filtered into the field house gym for the Survivor Speak Out. Before the speak out began and after it was over, students were encouraged to look around at the displays. One display was cutouts of women with a little blurb about who they were. Another was a table with shoes on it; behind each pair was a blurb about the owner of that pair of shoes.

"We want you to leave this room feeling empowered," said Malinda Cowles, Associate Director of the Haven Project, which sponsored of the event. "Now we're going to take the time to speak out against

violence on campus and in our community."

The guest speakers included two alumni, Dr. Laurie Cannady and Shaun Murphy. Cannady shared her personal experience with sexual assault. Raped at age four, abused by her boyfriend at age 15, she is finally taking back what is hers.

"Often times, we give our power away to someone else, to better someone else," said Cannady. "Sometimes when someone is taking from you, you may think you have nothing left to give. I'm telling you to take back that last little bit, because they cannot take what you are not willing to give."

Statistically, everyone is likely to encounter someone who has been sexually assaulted in their life. The Take Back the Night speak out is held every year after the march to let those people know that it is not their fault and that there are people on campus available to help them.

"If we look at the enemy, the enemy is fear and ignorance," said Murphy. "The weapon is hope. Take Back the Night is not just about women or men, it's about community. Sexual assault and rape is an everybody issue."

Volunteers from the Alice Paul House and the Haven project spoke about how important getting help is. They spoke of transforming from a victim to a survivor by no longer allowing the fear and unfortunate circumstances to control a person's life.

Speakers also encouraged the attendees to talk about sexual assault. The more it's talked about, the more people who can be helped.

"Rape is the elephant in the room," Murphy said. "And no one wants to talk about it. No one wants to acknowledge it."

Students appreciated this kind of honesty and the event overall.

"I find Take Back the Night really rewarding," said Samantha Rakowski (junior, psychology), who attended for the second consecutive year. "It gives me a better idea that I'm not alone based off what I've experienced."

And it was not just powerful for those who have encountered violence, others found it rewarding as well.

"Take Back the Night is an incredible experience," said Sarah Popiel (junior, Special Ed & Clinical Services). "This is my third year attending and it gets to me every time. Afterward, you know you're not alone."