Erika Purdy
Contributing Writer
Next Tuesday, April 23, the Wooster campus will host its annual Take Back the Night event. Take Back the Night is a national organization that aims to raise awareness around sexual assault and violence and provide survivors or allies with a place to share their stories. On the Wooster campus, Take Back the Night is regularly organized and spearheaded by the Sexual Respect Coalition (SRC), with cooperation from other campus organizations.
The event consists of two parts: a march followed by a speak-out. The march is designed to show support for sexual assault survivors through a visible demonstration of allyship. Participants are encouraged to join in chants that SRC Co-Treasurer and incoming President Miranda James ’20 emphasized will “increase visibility and empower marchers,” bringing a further sense of cohesion to the event.
Prior to the march, at around 6:00 p.m., students can make posters at the Kauke Arch to display while marching. Wooster’s march begins at the Arch at 6:30 p.m., continues down to President Bolton’s house, then turns left twice to walk up Beall Ave. Wooster Security and Protective Services will block off traffic during the event, allowing participants to move safely.
The march ends at the Scot Center, where the speak-out will begin in the Governance Room at around 7 p.m.
The speak-out is a continuation of the march and allows survivors and allies to share their stories. Some people perform poetry or songs, while others speak on various topics related to the event, including the intersection of racism, sexism and homophobia with sexual assault. For many people, the speak-out allows them to share their experiences without fear of judgment or repercussions and can be a healing experience for some. To aid in this process, both Wellness Center counselors and advocates from One-Eighty — a local non-profit organization that, among other related aims, helps survivors of domestic abuse — will be present at the speak-out.
While participants in the march are encouraged to stay for the speak-out, participation in either the speak-out or the march is not mandatory. Henry Mai ’20, also a co-treasurer of SRC, encourages students to “attend to what you feel comfortable with, because that speak-out session is very heavy, and it can be re-traumatizing for some people.” Experiences that help some people heal may be detrimental to others, but every level of respectful participation is welcome and appreciated and the degree of attendance is up to the individual.
During the speak-out, mandatory reporting of sexual assault as per federal Title IX policy is waived, meaning that students, faculty and staff in positions that require them to report do not need to for this event. Moreover, SRC asks that attendees understand that they will not speak about anything shared in the speak-out outside of the event, out of respect for their peers.
“We hope that our campus community will see it as a chance to support their peers and learn more about sexual violence on our campus,” said James. “We also hope that those who need or want a space to share about their experience will feel welcome and free of judgment.”
The event is open to people of all identities, and SRC has modified some of the chants provided by Take Back the Night to be less gendered and more inclusive to the campus community. While the event has historically consisted mostly of students and staff, Wooster community members are also welcome to attend. Past years have had attendance between 50 and 70 people.
In addition to Take Back the Night, SRC hosts weekly meetings that discuss sexual violence and ways of combating it. Beginning this spring and especially next year, SRC plans to expand its focus to provide sex education and positivity in addition to heavier discussion. There will be “on” weeks and “off” weeks that discuss sexual violence and sex positivity respectfully, allowing participants to attend to their comfort level.