Sexual violence in all forms happens far too often. Sexual assault, abuse, trafficking, stalking and gender harassment can happen to anyone at any point in their lives. According to the Take Back the Night Foundation, 1 in 3 women worldwide experience a form of sexual violence or intimate partner violence. Additionally, 1 in 6 men experience sexual violence and 2 in 3 transgender people have been sexually assaulted. Among all these statistics, less than 50% of victims report these crimes.
Take Back the Night (TBTN) stands with people from all walks of life to shatter the silence and stop the violence. This is an international organization that reaches over 30 million people in 1,000+ communities. At Syracuse University, we are a TBTN community where we stand together to end sexual, relationship and other forms of violence. Read more to find out how you, too, can support the cause.
Attend Take Back the Night
This year’s TBTN event will be held on Wednesday, March 29, at 7 p.m. in Hendrick’s Chapel. The annual event unites the campus community in raising awareness to end interpersonal violence and showing support for survivors and victims. The night will include a rally and a march across campus, and the event will end with a speak-out. No registration is required, so head out on Wednesday night to support victims and survivors!
Purchase a Take Back the Night T-Shirt
Who doesn’t love a T-shirt? T-shirts are $12 and profits directly support Syracuse University students impacted by interpersonal violence and the Take Back the Night Foundation. T-shirts are for sale in the Campus Store and the Barnes Center at The Arch Pharmacy from March 20-29. If you don’t want to add to your T-shirt collection but you still would like to support the cause financially, you can donate directly to Syracuse University’s Sexual and Relationship Violence Survivor Support Fund.
Sign the Take Back the Night Virtual Pledge
Whether you sign as a department, a student organization or as an individual, everyone is invited to sign the Take Back the Night virtual pledge. Signing the pledge is a promise to stand against all forms of interpersonal violence on Syracuse University’s campus and to create a respectful and safe environment for all outside the University’s walls. Act as a prosocial bystander and sign the pledge to support those impacted by sexual and relationship violence by Monday, March 27, to have your name displayed at TBTN 2023 and on the Take Back the Night webpage.
#IWILLTBTN Campaign
When signing the TBTN virtual pledge, you will have the option to order yellow paper stars that you and your organization, chapter or athletic team can write a message on to share how you will “take back the night” and work towards creating a safer community at Syracuse University. Stars will be available for pickup at the Health Promotion office front desk and should be brought back by Friday, March 24.
Join the SEPT Listserv
If you weren’t able to do the above activities in time, you can still join the effort to end all forms of interpersonal violence at Syracuse University. Join the Sexual and Relationship Violence Student Education and Prevention Team (SEPT) listserv to receive email updates on sexual and relationship violence prevention programming and initiatives on campus that you can get involved with. Thank you for your effort in making Syracuse a safer community!
Written By Kelvin Boakye ’24, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, SAMHE Peer Educator, and Sythong Run ’24, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, PEEHRS Peer Educator