Students rally against violence

This year’s Take Back the Night event was held Tuesday on the commons and ran from 5:30 p.m to 11:30 p.m., marking the occasion’s 10th anniversary at JMU.

Hillary Wing-Richards, Assistant Director of the Women’s Resource Center, said over 100 people attended

Take Back the Night is an annual nation wide, entirely student-organized function that strives to end violence against women. The evening’s festivities began with musical guests and key speakers. The performance line up included assistant director of Chris Stup and band, along with The Overtones, Exit 245 and sophomore Sean Castleberry.

Speakers included Brad Perry (’00) and Betsey Stahlcup. Perry now works to prevent violence on the state level with Area of Prevention of Violence and Team Dating Prevention of Violence Alliance. He based his speech on three things that perpetuate rape: denial, justification and evasion of its prevention.

Stahlcup heads a healing center for victims through a church in Fairfax. Sophomore Megan Wang heard her speak and said, "I admire these people so much; I can imagine the hope and heart required to travel to offer words at events like these and I take comfort in knowing one person can make a difference."

A speakout also was held for anyone willing to relate their own story of victimization, or to report the pain of others. The program was concluded with a Quad march and "shed," an invitation from the event’s coordinators to talk privately with anyone with the desire to do so.

Miranda Dove (’02), a graduate assistant for the Women’s Resource Center, said, "What’s unique about Take Back the Night is it allows survivors and their loved ones to speak out and prevent future victimization."

Completely orchestrated by students, the event was made possible by donations and a Benefit Concert held in February. The event was coordinated much in part by student leader, junior Sarah Smith, head of the Take back the Night Coalition. 06’.

"We started planning late September, early October," Smith said. "We had one meeting a week with the whole Take Back the Night Coalition and one a week with the committee heads."

Wing-Richards said, "Witnessing the passions the students carry with them, seeing the energy and motivation these young men and women hold is the most moving part of the evening for me, both as an administrator and survivor."

First Year Involvement, the Office of Residence Life and the Office of Sexual Assault Prevention all worked with the Women’s Resource Center to coordinate Take Back the Night along with The Clothesline Project, the latter being a T-shirt display created by victims and those close to them. Held in Transitions from March 30 to 31 from noon to 9 p.m., the exhibit will be presenting over 1,500 T-shirts. Wing-Richards said the event is, "An opportunity for people not only to create a shirt, but an opportunity for those who have never experienced abuse to walk through and live these stories."

Miranda Dove (’02), a graduate assistant for the Women’s Resource Center, said, "What’s unique about Take Back the Night is it allows survivors and their loved ones to speak out and prevent future victimization."

Completely orchestrated by students, the event was made possible by donations and a benefit concert held in February. The event was coordinated much in part by student leader, junior Sarah Smith, head of the Take Back the Night Coalition.

"We started planning late September, early October," Smith said. "We had one meeting a week with the whole Take Back the Night Coalition and one a week with the committee heads."

Wing-Richards said, "Witnessing the passions the students carry with them, seeing the energy and motivation these young men and women hold is the most moving part of the evening for me, both as an administrator and survivor."

First Year Involvement, the Office of Residence Life and the Office of Sexual Assault Prevention all worked with the Women’s Resource Center to coordinate Take Back the Night along with The Clothesline Project, the latter being a T-shirt display created by victims and those close to them. Held in Transitions from March 30 to 31 from noon to 9 p.m., the exhibit will be presenting over 1,500 T-shirts. Wing-Richards said, "[The event is] an opportunity for people not only to create a shirt, but an opportunity for those who have never experienced abuse to walk through and live these stories."