The Observer, April 13, 2007
Volume XXXIX, Issue 24
Take Back the Night concludes weeklong events against violence
This week, the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance (FMLA) sponsored a series of activities to celebrate the annual Take Back the Night event, a call for action against violence to women. While FMLA has made the event familiar to Case, its roots stem from an international movement.
Take Back the Night originated in Germany in the 1970s, and quickly spread internationally in an effort to halt sexual violence against women. In its modern form, the event is designed to motivate action against violence and intimidation that threatens anyone, but the focus is still recognizing the seriousness of violence against women.
The FMLA, a student organization dedicated to promoting equality and an environment free from discrimination for women on campus, hosts the events because sexual assault continues to be a serious issue on campuses and worldwide.
"Take Back the Night is just that," said FMLA president Jacqueline Greene. "The goal of the event is to make the night a time when women don't have to be fearful."
Events at Case began with a coffeehouse on Monday at Guilford. The goal was to provide a relaxed environment where the audience could enjoy refreshments while listening to women's poetry and music about the topic at hand. Women's art was also on display.
FMLA members provided statistics that underscored the prevalence of violence against women, but the atmosphere was relaxed, and some audience members contributed by reading a poem or account of a relevant experience.
Sophomore Erica Steckl played guitar and sang several songs for the event. "I participated because I realized that this is a really important issue," she said. "I wasn't a FMLA member, but I will definitely join next year, because you can't just ignore [the problem]."
Others were also interested by the material presented. "There was a panoply of applause [for the speakers]," Max Sills said. "It was really thought-provoking."
The events continued on Tuesday with the Clothesline Project in Thwing, part of a national program that invites women to create a shirt to express their feelings about violence or to portray their experience of being affected by violence. The shirts were placed on a clothesline and displayed.
On Wednesday, the Rape Crisis Center presented a workshop titled, "How to Support a Survivor." On Thursday, a vigil was held in order for survivors of abuse to tell their stories, and for fellow students to learn from their experiences as well as voice support for further action toward eliminating such violence.
Tonight will conclude the week's events with a benefit concert at the Spot beginning at 8 p.m. Admission is $5, or $3 with the donation of something from the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center's wishlist (this includes new clothing, art supplies, and toys). All proceeds go to the Rape Crisis Center.
FMLA members hope that offering so many events raises awareness of the issue, but the real goal is to enact a change.
"I remember hearing that political activism is really down on [the Case] campus," said Jason Huber, a FMLA member. "That just makes it even more important that we get out there and do something."
Not all of the Take Back the Night events were sad in nature: many celebrated the victory and survivorship of women who were affected by violence. "We really have something to be optimistic about, because sexual violence numbers have decreased since the early '90s. But there's still a lot we can be doing, on campus and elsewhere," said Greene.
