This Monday, April 11, through Wednesday, April 13, students, faculty, staff, and community members will be facilitating campus-wide Take Back the Night events.
Take Back the Night (TBTN) is a nonprofit organization, which according to the organization’s website, seeks to “end sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual abuse and all other forms of sexual violence.” Worldwide statistics show that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men are survivors or victims of sexual violence. In light of this, the organization has done well to galvanize over 600 colleges, universities, and communities into greater awareness and activism.
The annual events that take place during Take Back the Night are student organized, with faculty and staff cooperation. One of the events include a viewing of the film “Flirting With Danger” followed by a discussion. The discussion will be led by Marc Smithers,Assistant Dean of Residence Life and Programming, and theology professor Dr. Kristina LaCelle Peterson. The film and discussion will take place on Tuesday, March 12 from 7-9 p.m. in the Chamberlain Center, room 123.
According to Allyson Murphy ‘16, one of several student coordinators, the theme for this year’s event is “every walk of life.” The theme was chosen in an attempt to communicate that “even if things like this doesn’t happen as much on this campus [compared to others], it does still happen here, and it happens to people in all walks of life, regardless of economic status, gender, etc.” Murphy said, “ We hope that Take Back the Night will help people understand the prevalence of sexual abuse and domestic violence.,”
Another student coordinator has worked to draw in community support for this year’s Take Back the Night. Hannah Makin ’17, a psychology student, is currently interning at Allegany County Community Opportunities and Rural Development (ACCORD). Part of ACCORD’s mission is to address and prevent sexual and domestic violence/abuse in Allegany County. Makin’s efforts have provided Take Back the Night with the opportunity to kick-off the event with a dinner discussion with Heather Kunz, Makin’s supervisor and an employee with the ACCORD Center for Domestic Abuse and Violence. The dinner discussion will take place in the South End dining hall from 6-7 p.m on Monday, March 11.
Houghton’s student run literary magazine, The Lanthorn, is also doing its part to promote awareness of sexual/domestic violence. According to co-editor, Sophia Ross ’17, the first evening of Take Back the Night will feature a coffee house sponsored by The Lanthorn, to be held in Java 101. From 8-10 p.m. on Tuesday March 12, there will be music, poetry and prose readings, along with a release of The Candle (a mini-version of The Lanthorn). This edition of The Candle will include student work related to surviving sexual assault, abuse, or domestic violence. Students who attend are also invited to bring a t-shirt, on which they may have the Take Back the Night logo printed.
Unlike years past, there will not be a nighttime march around campus. Instead, there will be a candlelight vigil, accompanied by hymns, poetry, and reflection on the statistics of sexual and domestic abuse which plague many. Murphy stated, “The candle lighting is a shift in emphasis more suitable to this particular campus.” Murphy went on to discuss that our campus does not deal with a widespread and heavy drinking culture, which means individuals tend to feel relatively safe on our campus. Therefore, a candle lighting seeks to provide yet another safe place for both women and men to gather in recognition that awareness and support for those who are victims and survivors both on our campus in other places. Furthermore, while Murphy did state that Houghton is generally assumed to be safer than other college and university campuses, there being no statistics to prove it- yet. “Title IX [the Office of Civil Rights] is conducting a campus wide survey and evaluation. The results should be available in April,” Murphy said.
Houghton’s own Title IX coordinator will speak to the campus on the final day of Take Back the Night. Nancy Murphy, who also does counseling at the Counseling Center, will address students and faculty during chapel on Wednesday, March 13. Nancy Murphy will focus on how sexual or domestic violence affects many subsets of people, bringing to the community’s attention a more inclusive concept of abuse and violence.
Matthew Young ’18 plans to attend Take Back the Night. While he admitted that to his knowledge he has no personal connection with a sexual abuse survivor, he noted that men especially have a responsibility to take a stand against abuse and violence, despite possible discomfort. “There is absolutely no excuse for [sexual or domestic violence]; it’s never the victim’s fault, and never a matter of the perpetrator ‘losing control’ or any other ridiculous excuse,” he said. “Whatever our response, it should include outright condemnation of all sexual violence, and a commitment to confronting our peers about unacceptable behavior.”