The Observer, April 1, 2005
Volume XXXVII, Issue 23
Take Back the Night ends today
This week marks the return of "Take Back the Night," an annual set of events aimed to promote awareness of sexual violence and rape. The events are sponsored by the Case Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance (FMLA).
"It's important to have a venue for women to be able to express themselves about topics that are seen as taboo in general culture; not necessarily taboo but just not being able to talk about them openly," said senior Shezza Edris, president of FMLA.
This year's events began with "Take Back the Mic," a coffee-house performance of music and poetry reciting on Monday, followed by Tuesday's improv comedy about college dating, "Sex Signals: Live on Stage," which was co-sponsored by the Center for Women.
Thursday's candlelight vigil allowed victims and survivors of sexual assault and rape to share their stories by passing around a microphone.
"The more times the mike gets passed around, the more people become open to tell their stories," Edris said. "It's supposed to be a safe zone for women and men."
The last event, The Clothesline Project, will be held today from 12:30 p.m. in the Thwing Atrium. T-shirts made by survivors and their loved ones will share their experiences with sexual assault, rape, hate crimes, and domestic violence.
Of the 2732 violent crimes in Cleveland last year, 238 were forcible rapes, according to the 2004 FBI crime report.
Nationally, about 3 percent of college women experienced a completed or attempted rape during the college year, according to a 2001 joint report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Institute of Justice.
"To hear people's stories and to raise awareness is the main aim of this event, and to show support for victims and survivors" Edris said.
The first Take Back the Night in the United States occurred in San Francisco in 1978.
