NSU will launch a week’s worth of programming for Take Back the Night as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month from April 9 to 13.
Take Back the Night, originally thought of as a single event, is part of a nationwide campaign that brings awareness to sexual assault and seeks to end sexual, relationship and domestic violence.
“For individuals, often it’s women but any person really, who’s experienced some form of violence or who have friends who have experienced some form of sexual violence, night and dark can be a scary thing,” explained Laura Bennett, Title IX coordinator. “So Take Back the Night is really meant to be an evening of empowerment where people take experiences or stories or things that they’ve gone through to try to raise awareness and empower people to really ‘take back the night.’”
According to Tamara Lumsden, graduate assistant for weekend programming and chair of Take Back the Night, programming for Take Back the Night looks different on every campus and even yearly at NSU.
“In the past it’s ranged from being four or five events throughout the entire month or all week,” said Lumsden. “This year we’re doing all week and we’ve worked with a lot of different departments and organizations to put it on.”
Among the myriad of events that will take place during the week is the candlelight vigil and walk, which can be considered the trademark event of the campaign, on April 11 at 7 p.m. beginning at the Shark Fountain. There will also be a community service initiative making survival kits for Women in Distress.
Bennett and Desmond Daniels, deputy Title IX coordinator, serve on the planning committee to help students and staff design and plan programming. Daniels said that along with raising awareness it’s also an opportunity to learn.
“I think we want to encourage individuals to take this opportunity to learn as much as they can,” said Daniels. “Learn how to identify some of those problematic behaviors that often cause adverse experiences for students, learn how to provide support, learn where our resources are on campus, learn where our resources are in the community so that you can connect individuals to them. Heaven forbid you’re subjected to these experiences yourself, you can seek out those resources as well.”
Lumsden said it’s important to take part in events like this to learn what we as individuals and as a university can do to support victims of sexual assault, which isn’t talked about often.
“The entire month is important because, it’s not something that’s spoken about a lot,” said Lumsden. “And it’s important that people know that there are victims of sexual assault on our campus or at least, you know somebody that knows somebody.”
According to Lumsden, Henderson Counseling will be available at each event to speak with students who may be triggered or need any form of support. Counselors from Henderson are considered confidential resources, meaning that speaking to them will not launch an investigation if that is not what the student wants.
Bennett added, “One thing we make sure of is that people feel like they can speak out and share their experiences and it’s not going to trigger a formal investigation or disciplinary action, especially if students aren’t ready for that to happen. We try to make that a safe space and we’ll offer support and follow up in a supportive fashion, but students can feel like they can participate without filing a complaint.”
For more information on Take Back the Night Programming, contact Tamara Lumsden at specialprojects@nova.edu.
