About 200 men, women and community members attended the Take Back the Night rally and march yesterday evening in order to raise awareness about sexual assault.
“Sexual assault is accepted by our society,” said Susanne Dietzel, director of the Ohio University Women’s Center. “(Sexual assault) exists in the minds of women who, out of fear, cannot live up to their full potential. … Raising our voices to take back the night is only successful if it’s connected to a larger movement for women’s liberation and civil liberty for all.”
Last night’s 32nd annual Take Back the Night, hosted by the Women Affairs Commission of Student Senate, started with a rally at Scripps Amphitheater and continued with a march down Jeff Hill, through East Green, down Court Street and back to the start.
Women toted signs reading “No means no!” and “15 out of 16 RAPISTS will never spend a day in jail” as they walked, while men and community members stood on the sides of the street cheering on the marchers.
“I think it’s great that there are so many people willing to come out, not specifically because they have been sexually assaulted, but instead to raise awareness about assault that goes unnoticed everyday,” said Jen Atkins, a sophomore studying sociology and criminology.
With three sexual assault reports during the past week, the message that this behavior should never be tolerated is incredibly pertinent, Dietzel said at the rally. Dietzel spoke along with several speakers including a representative from My Sister’s Place and the Survivor Advocacy Program.
“The first time he told me he loved me came right after the first time he hit me,” said Julie, a sexual assault survivor. “His cruelty reached a peak last November. … He grabbed me by the hair and ejected me from his house. He knocked me to the floor with a kitchen knife in his hand.
“He later told me the only reason that he didn’t kill me that night was because he didn’t know where to dispose of my body.”
Julie eventually left the man, but not before losing her sense of self. She is trying to rebuild her identity, and he has been expelled from OU.
“One in four women on college campuses will be sexually assaulted,” said Victoria Calderon, women’s affairs commissioner and a former Post employee. “We need to talk about it.”
While Take Back the Night raises awareness about violence and sexual assault of women, dozens of men came to the rally and stood on the sidelines to show their support. The problem pertains to everyone, said Calderon, a sophomore studying pre-med chemistry and journalism.
“I think too few guys know about women’s violence issues, or they don’t think it’s a big deal,” said Johnny O’Dell, a junior studying media management. “I think that it’s really important that guys show up to these kinds of events and make themselves aware because it’s really important. It’s not just a women’s
issue.”
jc543108@ohiou.edu
@ThePostCulture
