Take Back the Night rally, march and speak-out Wednesday night

Take Back the Night rally, march and speak-out Wednesday nightApril 15, 2008Nichelle Rothongndrothon@syr.edu

The Syracuse University Office of Prevention Services is hosting a series of events — including workshops, speakers and gatherings — for Take Back the Night, concluding with the Take Back the Night rally, march and speak-out Wednesday, April 16, at 7 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel.

Sexual violence is a pervasive problem in our society, particularly on college campuses. Statistics show that an average of one in four college-age women will experience a sexual assault by the time they have completed college. The goal of Take Back the Night and associated events is not only to educate everyone on campus about the prevalence of sexual assault, but also to bring members of the community together to take a stand publicly and proclaim that the violence must end.

The organizers hope Take Back the Night will help create an atmosphere of zero tolerance for gender violence by:

• increasing community awareness of issues of violence against women and its interrelationship with all other forms of discrimination;
• educating people about the extent and the nature of the violence that is systematically used against women to keep them from becoming powerful, autonomous individuals;
• honoring the memory of the victims of violence and celebrating survivors; and
• empowering individual men and women to take direct action against violence, whether it be through speaking out, intervening in potentially violent situations, lobbying, voting or some other form of activism.

This year, more than 35 departments and offices across the SU campus, led by Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor, have endorsed the following statement signifying their stance against violence:

“As members of the Syracuse University community, the faculty and staff of our department/office will not tolerate any form of sexual, relationship or other types of interpersonal violence on this campus. Every member of our community is entitled to live and work in a safe environment, and we are committed to work toward creating such an environment.”

Events this year will be attended by a collaboration of campus and community members, coming together to take a stand against all violence, to raise awareness about attitudes that perpetuate violence, and to discuss ways people can work together to make the night safe for all members of the community. The keynote speaker will be Minnie Bruce Pratt, professor of women’s studies and writing at SU, where she also serves as faculty for a developing Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender Studies Program.

Additionally, this year’s Take Back the Night events will feature a panel titled “What It Means to be a Man and a Feminist” on Tuesday, April 15, at 7 p.m. in Room 500 of the Hall of Languages. Panelists will consist of a diverse group of men who consider themselves feminists. They will discuss what that means, both in a societal and everyday context.

The Take Back the Night rally, scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16, will be followed by a march that leaves from Hendricks Chapel, beginning around 7:15 p.m. The speak-out will begin at 8:15 p.m. in the chapel. The rally and march are open to the public; however, media attendance will not be permitted at the speak-out due to the sensitive nature of the subject matter to be discussed.

For more information about any of the Take Back the Night events, contact Janet Epstein, Sexual Assault Support Services, at 443-7098 or epsteinj@syr.edu.

Take Back the Night 2008 Events

Tuesday, April 1511 a.m.-3 p.m: Hands Against Violence, Schine Student Center

7 p.m.: “What It Means to be a Man and a Feminist” Panel Discussion Hall of Languages, Room 500

Wednesday, April 16Got Consent? T-shirt Campaign, sponsored by Office of Judicial Affairs, University Judicial Board/Peer Education Team

11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Hands Against Violence, Schine Student Center

5:30-6:30 p.m.: Clothesline Project, Hendricks Chapel Strates Room

7 p.m.: Take Back the Night Rally, March and Speak Out, Hendricks Chapel