For the first time in its history, Ohio University’s Take Back the Night week will be putting inclusion in the forefront.
The week, sponsored by Student Senate’s Women’s Affairs commission, aims to educate on sexual assault and violence, while supporting survivors. Its march and rally, which draws a crowd to take a stand against assault, will now allow men or male identified students to be a part of the group.
Talie Carter, student senate commissioner of women’s affairs and a senior studying restaurant, hotel and tourism, is at the head of planning and said she wanted to make an impact on how the week and the march specifically would be different this year.
“We want people to take away an idea that gender doesn’t dictate how you receive support, how others view you, how others are willing to reach out and help you,” Carter said. “We want to remove gender from that, and focus on the idea of sexual assault and stop that.”
Take Back the Night March has been celebrated at OU for more than 30 years, and in the past has consisted of women marching and men staying on the sidelines in support.
Although she and some of the other commissioners have been met with some hesitation to the idea, Carter said the conversation is changing around the country and she wants to see OU stay progressive.
Director of the LGBT Center Delfin Bautista said they think this is an important step to opening the conversation and raising awareness about assault, even if it does bring about controversy.
“We know that victims and survivors of violence come in all shapes and sizes and genders and colors,” Bautista said. “I’m really proud that the women’s commission on student senate has made a commitment to making it an inclusive event.”
The week is also composed of events meant to talk about the discussion of inclusion, as well as assault and violence. A brown bag discussion, inclusion panel and name burning are being offered. The march and rally will feature performances by Title IX, The Tempo Tantrums and a presentation by political analyst Zerlina Maxwell.
Looking forward to the week, Nicole Dailey, student senate vice commissioner of women’s affairs and a sophomore studying psychology and anthropology, said it is all about inclusion and education, not about the numbers.
“I would honestly just love to see all genders (take part),” Dailey said. “I don’t care how many people come, as long as … all types of people feel comfortable taking part.”
Graduate Student Senate Women’s Affairs Commissioner Emily Burns, a first year graduate student studying public administration, said she wants the overall message to be one of support toward victims.
“(I hope people take away that) sexual assault can happen to anyone, that it’s never the (survivor’s) fault and that it’s our responsibility to stand behind the (survivor) and support the (survivor),” Burns said.
Pulling from their theme of the week, Carter said she hopes to be progressive in this year’s events, and wants to see support from the OU community.
“We want everyone to know sexual assault is not something to play with,” Carter said. “Sexual assault does not discriminate, so why are we?”
@reb_barnes
rb605712@ohiou.edu
If You Go:
What: Kick Off!
When: 5 p.m., Monday
Where: The Front Room
Admission: Free
What: Inclusion Panel
When: 6 p.m., Tuesday
Where: Baker Student Lounge
Admission: Free
What: Name Burning
When: 8 p.m., Tuesday
Where: McCracken Hall
Admission: Free
What: March and Rally with speaker Zerlina Maxwell
When: 6 p.m., Thursday
Where: Scripps Amphitheater
Admission: Free
What: Brown Bag Lunch on Inclusion
When: Noon, Friday
Where: Baker University Center Room 239
Admission: Free
What: Self-Defense Workshop
When: 5 p.m., Friday
Where: Baker University Center Room 403
Admission: Free
