Newsletter: Spring 2002: Take Back The Night

Since the 1970’s, Take Back The Night (TBTN) marches have been organized across the United States, and around the world. Some marches have narrowed their focus to rape and sexual assault, while others have expanded their focus to include other forms of interpersonal violence. The TBTN tradition seems to be strongest on college campuses. This April, at least three universities in NYC carried on the tradition.

An NYU student leading the march. Photo by Kathie Carroll, Washington Square News.

New York University’s Take Back The Night march, held on April 18th, started with a rally near Washington Square Park, as students and others gathered for musical performances by Thea Zumwalt and Imani Uzuri. There were poetry readings, survivor’s testimonials, and a performance by NYU’s student organization, the "Radical Cheerleaders." The rally culminated as the Campaign for Safer Subway Stations unveiled its art project, "Wall of Survivors." After the rally, the group of about 60 students began a march through campus, passing many NYU Residence Halls.

Last year, NYU did not have a march; it was revived this year by students from the school’s Womyn’s Center and Voices for Choice, with the help of the University’s new Office of Sexual Assault Prevention, Education and Support.

Columbia Men Against Violence and others at Columbia University's Take Back the Night event.

Also on April 18th, students at Columbia University took to the streets for the school’s 14th annual TBTN. Beginning with a rally at Barnard, the Columbia TBTN statement of purpose was followed by a roar from the crowd of over 750 men and women. Men Against Violence then led the men to a discussion group, while the women began the first half of the route alone. Later, the men met up with the women to march in solidarity. Supporters cheered from their apartments, as did people dining outdoors at the neighborhood’s many restuarants. At 9:30 the marchers returned to Barnard for a speak-out on the lawn that lasted until nearly 2 in the morning.

Fordham University held its first Take Back The Night in the history of the school on April 18th. The Women’s Empowerment Committee of Progressive Students for Justice created the event, which began with a candlelight vigil, open microphone and speak-out, and concluded with a march through campus passing every dorm. Seventy-five students, including about fifteen men, participated in the march - an inspiring turnout for the school’s first attempt at organizing such an event. Afterward, food was served and the students were able to sit and talk about the event. The event’s organizers intend to ensure that this event will become an annual tradition.

Take Back The Night is also more than a march. About a week after its march, Columbia’s TBTN held "SEXhibition," its annualsex-positive fair, to increase campus awareness of the importance of consent. NYU’s TBTN march was only one event during a week of film discussion groups, self-defense workshops and other seminars.

The Alliance congratulates the student organizers for their success and their committment to anti-sexual violence efforts. We looks forward to the continued tradition of these important events.

Kate Woodrow is the Outreach and Education Associate at The New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault. [[2] more]

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[1]: http://www.nycagainstrape.org/home/nycaasa/stage.nycagainstrape.org/newsletter_author_1.html
[2]: http://www.nycagainstrape.org/home/nycaasa/stage.nycagainstrape.org/newsletter_author_1.html
[3]: http://www.nycagainstrape.org/home/nycaasa/stage.nycagainstrape.org/newsletter_article_2.html

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