Thirty-five years ago, terms like 'date rape' and 'domestic violence' were non-existent.
But last night 150 people protested violence against women at the 30th annual Take Back the Night rally.
The rally began with Jan Greisinger, one of the women who founded the original march in Athens 30 years ago.
Women still have a long way to go, Greisinger said.
Here we are in 2009 still having to say 'stop
' she said.
The next speaker was Women's Center Director Susanne Dietzel, who urged women to tell people that their bodies are their own.
She said Take Back the Night has been successful through the years by putting a public identity to sexual violence.
Violence against women is still underreported, Dietzel said.
It seems like not a week (goes by) this year (where) violence has been reported to my office she said. For every one (reported)
there are four unreported.
John Borawski, who organized a group for men who want to support the march, spoke about men's' roles in ending violence against women.
The culture at large gives men every excuse not to be here
Borawski said. Men say (violence against women) is not their problem. They are wrong.
At the rally's conclusion, 100 women gathered to march with signs that read 'Silence is not consent,' 'This is my night' and 2
4
6
8 no more date rape.' They began walking silently down Jeff Hill with candles lit in honor of victims.
Senior Kelly Brown has participated in the Take Back the Night march every year since she has been a student at OU and said she participates to support the victims she knows.
It's kind of a silent issue, said Brown
who is studying photojournalism. People at college campuses hear about it but might not have a face to put with it. People need to be aware.",",3,Culture,Mallory Long,28044a.jpg,Women participating in the Take Back the Night rally march down Washington Street chanting slogans such as
