Take Back the Night

March and rally targeting sexual violence

 

To focus on Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, the Trine University Office of Student Life, Community Anti-Violence Association (CAVA), the Bacchus, Circle K, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Kappa Sigma Alpha, Delta Chi, and Alpha Sigma student groups and the Department of Criminal Justice, Psychology and Social Sciences will sponsor the eighth annual Take Back the Night march and rally on Wednesday, April 8.

The march and rally will raise public awareness of crimes of silence such as rape, sexual assault and abuse, and domestic violence, which often go unreported. The rally will give survivors of such violence a chance to voice their experiences and affirm their transition from victim to survivor. The march will affirm the support of the community as it bands together to fight such crimes.

The evening will begin with a community information fair on the Best Hall north lawn at 7 p.m. In addition to receiving valuable information, those attending will enjoy games as well as pizza, sandwiches and other refreshments. Guest speakers will share their stories beginning at 7:45 p.m. Activities will move indoors to Best Hall room 229 if weather is inclement.

The march to Monument Circle in downtown Angola will begin at 8 p.m. to demonstrate the group’s alliance against sexual and domestic violence committed upon women and children. A candlelight vigil in support and honor of victims’ rights will close the evening, with a statement that all human beings have the right to live free of violence, the right to be heard, and the right to reclaim those rights if they have been violated.

In addition, the Office of Student Life and CAVA will sponsor a self-defense class taught by Jason Sheppard of ATA Black Belt Academy on Wednesday, April 15 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Witmer Clubhouse. The class is free to Trine students and $20 for faculty, staff, and community members. A portion of the funds will benefit CAVA. Participants must sign up in the Office of Student Life prior to participating. Those attending will receive Kubaton self-defense weapons for their key rings.

Take Back the Night derives from a women-only protest begun in 1977 in England, during which participants demonstrated against the violence and fear women encountered walking the streets at night. San Francisco followed suit in 1978, and Take Back the Night events then spread across the country, particularly among college campuses.