“Claim our bodies, claim our rights! Take a stand, take back the night! Two, four, six, eight! No more violence! No more rape!”
These chants rang out as students rallied and marched around campus to end sexual violence and “Take Back the Night” Thursday.
An international movement, TBTN encourages open discussion about sexual assault by involving students and promoting community awareness. Porchlight Counseling Services, an Evanston organization that offers support to victims of sexual violence on college campuses, is this year’s TBTN beneficiary.
The event kicked off with a barbecue at the Women’s Center followed by a rally at the Rock. A cappella groups Extreme Measures and Significant Others performed before Lyzanne Trevino, Weinberg ‘10, spoke about her experience with sexual assault. Take Back The Night committee members gave a collective speech to conclude the rally.
“Tonight is also a night of unity,” said TBTN co-chair Annie Adams, a SESP junior. “We march because we recognize that only together…can we take back the day and take back the night.”
Several organizations teamed up for event, including SHAPE, College Feminists, Northwestern Sex Week and the Panhellenic Association. Adams was satisfied with this year’s turnout and said she believed TBTN’s message was being heard.
“I feel like especially this year we’re reaching people who we ordinarily wouldn’t have reached,” Adams said.
The hour-long march across campus concluded at the Dittmar Memorial Gallery in Norris for the speak-out portion of the evening.
“This is a space where people can share their stories,” said Communication senior Emily Scherker, the other TBTN co-chair. “It takes a lot of courage to come up here and talk, so nothing leaves the room. It’s a safe space.”
Some of the speakers had shared their stories of sexual assault in the past, while others spoke about their experiences for the first time.
“The speeches were very powerful,” said SHAPE member and Weinberg sophomore Alex Finkelstein. “Actually hearing their stories and seeing how much courage these people had was definitely empowering.”