On Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Take Back the Night occurred throughout Saint Mary's College and the University of Notre Dame, hosted by the Belles Against Violence Office (BAVO). The event kicked off at Stapleton Lounge and ended at Ryan Hall for a prayer vigil.
Take Back the Night is a global movement that began in 1976 when a Tribunal Council of 2,000 women came to discuss the lack of protection towards women's safety and violence committed towards women. This led to various movements across the nation, with some of the first occurring on college campuses.
Preface and Kickoff
Take Back the Night was coordinated by members of the Student Advisory Committee. This includes subcommittees such as empowerment, education and prevention. Saint Mary's junior Ally Krause, a student advisory committee member of the BAVO empowerment team, discussed the importance of Take Back the Night.
"Take Back the Night is an empowerment event where survivors can share their stories. It's where we come together," Krause said.
The first event of the night was at Stapleton Lounge from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Students were able to enjoy catered food and tote bags while creating posters for the march. They wrote slogans such as "Shatter the silence, stop the violence," "Silence is violence" and "Protect Title IX."
Krause mentioned the preparation process across departments at Saint Mary's for Kick Off. She explained how BAVO worked together with Title IX to plan the evening.
Saint Mary's senior Phoenix McClellan, another committee member of the BAVO empowerment team, said that her favorite aspect of the event is the bonding and connections made.
"Even if I don't talk to all of the people that I met last year, [there is] just this immediate kinship between all of us. Even if it wasn't one of those things [where] we're going to become best friends … we are friends in this moment," McClellan said.
More than 30 students showed up to create posters in solidarity with survivors. The event allowed for students to feel ready and prepared for the night, whether they chose to participate in the rest of the events or not.
"I'm honestly so impressed there's a lot of people here. I know Take Back the Night is very influential, especially in the tri-campus community, so I am expecting a lot of people … [with] how many people have shown up here, it gives me hope for the rest of the day," sophomore Daniela Rivera said. Rivera is a also a committee member of the BAVO empowerment team.
For students attending the event for the first time, it offered a chance to witness the visible support for survivors of sexual violence and how the issue is addressed across campuses.
"This is my first time going, so this is kind of new for me. I'm liking it so far, [and] I think it's really cool how there's already so many girls that are there. I'm excited for the night," sophomore Lucy Vung Nu said.
Kick Off ended at 5:30 p.m. with a planned march to Notre Dame. Due to inclement weather changes, the march was canceled.
Survivor Speak Out
Students arrived on Notre Dame's campus around 6 p.m. for Survivor Speak Out. Booths were available for students with a variety of tri-campus and South Bend community organizations, including the Office of Institutional Equity, BAVO and the Family Justice Center of St. Joseph County. A booth with tote bags, shirts, pens and pamphlets were provided to students.
Senior McKenzie McDaniel is a committee member for Take Back the Night and helped plan Survivor Speak Out. She mentioned that the event is a space where students can share their stories without consequences.
“Take Back the Night is really just to give a space for people who want to talk … without feeling like their story is going to be shared or that they're going to face any sort of retribution," McDaniel said.
The event concluded around 8:30 p.m. for the march to Ryan Hall, originally planned to the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes.
March to Ryan Hall
The march to Ryan Hall began at 8:35 p.m., where students carried posters from Kick Off and Survivor Speak Out to show support for victims of sexual assault. Some chants shouted were "The streets are ours," "Shine our light" and "We will not be victimized."
Notre Dame freshman Mekhi Barnett hoped that this march and event provided opportunities for survivors and allies to have their voices heard.
"Typically, people are in their own shell for this and they don't really get to express their emotions on it … it's our job for us to let them know that people do care and they can speak out and help will be provided," Barnett said.
Prayer Vigil
The night concluded in the Chapel of St. Anne at Ryan Hall, where candles were passed out and lit as a sign of solidarity. The audience heard several prayers recited from the Quran, the Torah and the Bible. Near the end, audiences repeated the phrase "Let us believe, so hope is not extinguished."
McClellan explained that Take Back the Night allows everyone to see each other eye-to-eye on a heavy topic and continue discussion on sexual violence.
"Take Back the Night meets everyone where they're at, whether you choose to speak out or not. It's there for you … whether [you're] a freshman at 18 years old or a grad student in your 30s," McClellan said.
