Take Back the Night, a five-day series of events which raises awareness about sexual violence, kicked off yesterday evening in the Kaleidoscope Room of Newcomb Hall with a panel discussion about dating survivors of gender-based violence.
Take Back the Night, an international effort against sexual violence, was organized in the United States in 1978 after anti-rape marches in Belgium and West Germany. The University first held its own Take Back the Night campaign in 1988, Take Back the Night co-chair Michelle Herman said.
At yesterday evening's panel, five current University students and one alumna shared their experiences. Katie, a third-year student who wished to keep her last name confidential, advised others to be patient with victims of sexual assault.
"You'll have so many questions, but don't ask," Katie said. "Let them talk to you as they will."
University alumna Caitlin Mahoney said University resources can assist those affected by sexual violence. "The Women's Center helped me more than I could say," Mahoney said. "I would recommend the system especially if the victim feels uncomfortable with a public criminal trial."
The Office of Sexual and Domestic Violence Services, Feminism is for Everyone and the Sexual Assault Leadership Council helped put together the event. Claire Kaplan, director of sexual and domestic violence services, said the Women's Center has been a part of Take Back the Night since the Center's establishment.
"[Take Back the Night] is an opportunity for survivors of any gender-based violence to talk about what happened," Kaplan said. "[It is] a way of exposing the truth with people listening and not judging."
Take Back the Night co-chair Emilee Kiesel said although the University typically organizes its Take Back the Night events in April, other colleges operate differently. "We always have the event in the spring, [but] it's different across campuses," she said. "Some [only] have a vigil; others do events throughout the year, but [don't have] an official week."
Herman said Take Back the Night had made efforts to involve the wider Charlottesville community in the event. "We get some funding from the University but mostly ... we've been asking local businesses for donations and raising our own money," Herman said. "We don't want the community to fear coming out to this event ... we want it to be open to everyone."
Herman said the march, rally and vigil - which all take place Thursday - are the most anticipated events of the week.
Kiesel, who helped organize last year's vigil, said at sundown University students and community members gather at the nTelos Wireless Pavilion and march from the Downtown Mall to the Amphitheater, where they receive candles.
"The vigil gives survivors a safe environment to tell [their] stories anonymously," Kiesel said. "[It's] a kind of closure for people."
The next event in the series is a self-defense workshop from 7 to 9 tonight in Maury Hall.
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