Wednesday night, students gathered in Talley Student Union for Take Back the Night, an annual event held since 1988* as a part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month in support of the survivors of sexual assault. The event’s turnout was slightly smaller than attendance compared to the last few years; due to the anticipated rain it was moved from Stafford Commons to the ballroom.
Take Back the Night was hosted by the Women’s Center, as well as many other campus organizations including Student Government, NC State Athletics and the Division of Academic and Student Affairs. Sara Forcella, the rape prevention education coordinator for the Women’s Center, said Take Back the Night was about raising awareness about violence against women, sexual assault, stalking and other personal violence.
“We hope to highlight that Sexual Assault Awareness Month is very much needed,” Forcella said. “And that our campus does not accept acts of violence, whether they be verbal, sexual or emotional. We hope that this event allows survivors to feel supported.”
Maggie Schroder, a senior studying social work, volunteered for the event with a group from Movement Peer Educators, a student organization within the Women’s Center. Schroder, who was attending Take Back the Night for the third time, felt that it was very important for the NC State community to hold this event.
“It’s definitely a very eye-opening experience, especially the survivor speak-out,” Schroder said. “Being able to sit in a room and listen to survivors talk about a personal experience is really emotional, but I think it’s a really great opportunity we have as students to be able to come and do this.”
The evening started with a rally, where Forcella and student speakers Kira Knight, a senior studying psychology, and Niccolo Roditti, a junior majoring in international studies, explained why it is important to have events like this around campus. Knight and Roditti shared personal experiences and spoke out against sexual violence.
Student Body Vice President Mia Connell, a sophomore studying sociology, also talked about her own experiences around campus and talking to students.
“It doesn’t matter what I do, it doesn’t matter how I dress or how I carry myself — it doesn’t matter how anyone does — it’s absolutely 100 percent the perpetrator’s fault,” Connell said. “Here I am going on two years, and I don’t know a single person not affected by sexual assault here at NC State.”
After the rally, attendees took part in the march, chanting “take back the night” and other messages against sexual assault as they walked across campus.
Lauren Frey, a senior studying environmental sciences who was also volunteering with Movement Peer Educators, looks forward to coming to the event every year.
“It’s very intense — the survivor speak out is very intense — and it’s very needed, and I think it’s really satisfying to walk across campus just screaming and shouting the messages we want to send out about ending sexual violence,” Frey said. “I’m glad that this movement is put on by all the sponsors.”
Participants then convened back at Talley Ballroom for the survivor speak-out, where sexual assault survivors had the opportunity to share their stories and be heard.
Frey was disappointed that more people did not show up to the event, as it was an important part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
“I think people don’t realize how much there is to learn about sexual violence and how to be involved and make a difference in ending it,” Frey said. “So I think there is event for not only hearing about the resources but learning first-hand people’s experiences and understanding how common and how difficult these experiences are.”
Lucia Thomas, a junior studying anthropology, said coming to Take Back the Night was her first time attending an event like this.
“I really wanted to be a part of something that I felt strongly about,” Thomas said. “Even though it’s kind of weird because I came by myself. But sexual assault also happens when you’re by yourself, so I’m really glad I came.”
*Editor’s note: this story originally misstated the start year of Take Back the Night.
Marchers for Take Back the Night go through the Brickyard on Wednesday while chanting, "Wolfpack unite, take back the night!" The Women’s Center hosted the event as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Week.
