Sexual harassment and assault can happen at any moment in our lives, and when it does, it can be very difficult to comprehend and understand. The World Health Organization states that 1 in 3 women experience some form of sexual violence. For men, it’s 1 in 6. And according to the National Center for Transgender Equality, members of the transgender and non-binary community experience sexual violence at even higher rates, nearly 1 in 2.
While interpersonal violence exists in the world, we can all do our part to try and end it. By attending Take Back The Night, not only can those who have been affected find support and learn resources available, but we can all, no matter our status as survivors or victims, help advocate for fewer acts of any kind of sexual and relationship violence.
Take Back the Night helps our community shed light on interpersonal violence and provides a safe space for survivors to be their full selves. Here’s how you can be involved.
Attend the Virtual Rally
This year’s virtual rally will give our campus community insight on spreading awareness of interpersonal violence and ways to participate in sexual and relationship violence prevention. Our virtual rally will be hosted live on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, at 7 p.m. ET. The event will host special guests such as Dr. Jillian Scheer and Kimberly Ng ’21. Learn more and register on the Take Back the Night webpage.
Download a TBTN Zoom Background
Throughout their day and while attending the rally, the campus community can download zoom backgrounds created by the Take Back the Night committee to show their support and be united.
Participate in the Clothesline Project
Students can also participate in Take Back the Night by creating a shirt of their own to be displayed in the “Survivors Speak-Out Clothesline Project.” Anyone who participates in the Clothesline Project can create a shirt helping spread awareness of interpersonal violence and establish a safe environment for survivors and victims. All shirts will be displayed at the Schine Student Center from Monday, March 29, through Sunday, April 4. Shirts will also be displayed virtually during the Take Back the Night Rally. Submit a shirt in person or virtually by Friday, March 26.
Purchase the Official TBTN Shirt
Students can purchase their own Take Back the Night shirt at the Campus Store or the Barnes Center Pharmacy, and help to share with others to also participate in this year’s event. All shirts are $10 and every purchase proceeds to resources to help victims and survivors.
Whether by zoom, wearing your TBTN shirt, or signing the pledge, we can all do our part to help spread awareness about sexual, relationship, domestic, emotional, and financial violence. By participating in Take Back the Night, you are doing your part in helping create a safe and comfortable environment for all current and future SU students to come. Together, we can Take Back The Night.
Written by Elliot Salas ’24, College of Engineering & Computer Science, TBTN Committee
Sources:
Joint News Release, & World Health Organization. (2021, March 9). Devastatingly pervasive: 1 in 3 women globally experience violence. Retrieved March 17, 2021, from https://www.who.int/news/item/09-03-2021-devastatingly-pervasive-1-in-3-women-globally-experience-violence
James, S. E., Herman, J. L., Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016). The report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. Retrieved from the
National Center for Transgender Equality: https://www.transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/USTS-Full-Report-FINAL.PDF