Take Back the Night rallies against rape
The annual rape awareness event occurs across the United States.
Published Sept. 28, 2007
More than 100 students filled Stotler Lounge in Memorial Union on Tuesday night to make signs, hear speakers and prepare to march down the streets of MU as part of Take Back the Night.
Take Back the Night is an annual gathering and march to protest rape and sexual violence. The event, which was scheduled to start at Lowry Mall, moved to Stotler Lounge due to rain.
This year, the event featured food from various donors and an opportunity for students to make signs for the march. Students made signs that stated, "Men and women unite against rape," and, "1 in 4 is too many!"
Aja Junior, Stronger Together Against Rape vice president and MU junior, said the tradition of Take Back the Night dates back more than 100 years ago, when women marched through the streets of London and demanded an end to prostitution, rape and sexual assault.
Today, the march is practiced throughout the United States and is part of MU's Sexual Responsibility Week.
"It's a really important and good cause to support," freshman volunteer Jill Antrobus said.
Six speakers talked for less than 10 minutes each, but every one had a different message to deliver.
MU police officer Adam Duncan said rape and sexual assault are the most under-reported crimes, so it is not possible to know the actual number of incidents that occur each year.
He said the department's goal is to eliminate the threat on campus.
"Until the actual assaults are zero, our work is not done," Duncan said.
In order to make this vision a reality, Duncan said the MU Police Department offers free women's self-defense courses and promotes an environment in which sexual violence is unacceptable.
According to the MU 2006 Campus Safety and Crime Report, four forcible sex offenses were reported on MU's campus last year.
Social work associate professor Fran Danis said the problem is not how to keep women safe from rape, but how to prevent rape through education.
"We need to do more than take back the night, but the morning and the afternoon too," Danis said.
In between speakers, representatives from STAR, Peer Rape Educators, Greek Advocates and Men Against Rape and Sexual Assault introduced themselves and explained their organizations. These organizations work together in the Rape Education Office and helped sponsor Take Back the Night.
Psychology professor Rebecca Martinez shared her personal experience with sexual assault, and Counseling Services psychologist Rico Mosby offered suggestions to those who might have to counsel a loved one who is the victim of sexual abuse.
Kelley Lucero, coordinator of The Shelter's outreach sexual assault program, called upon the men of the MU community to aid the effort to rid rape and sexual assault from the campus.
"We need men behind us in order for this effort to be successful," Lucero said.
The Shelter provides services for victims of domestic violence or sexual assault including emergency shelter, support groups, legal representation and a 24-hour hotline.
As the speeches concluded, the crowd rallied outside Memorial Union and marched around campus, accompanied by two police cars with flashing lights.
Speakers shouted anti-rape messages and concluded their march at Memorial Union after approximately 20 minutes.
Following the march was "Speak Out," in which victims and survivors of rape or sexual assault could share their stories in an open and anonymous forum.