Community members were encouraged to write signs for the march through campus at NDSU’s annual Take Back the Night event.
On Thursday night, North Dakota State’s campus featured shouts like “People unite, take back the night!” ring out as students, faculty, staff and community members gathered to support survivors of violence as part of Take Back the Night.
Take Back the Night has been on campuses across the nation since its start in 1972. At NDSU, the event has been happening for at least the past five years.
“Take Back the Night is about supporting and empowering survivors,” said Kelsey Keimig, assistant director of NDSU’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Advocacy. “With statistics nationwide and the prevalence of violence, it’s critical. Nationally, we have one in five students — and at NDSU it’s one in four — experiencing sexual violence. This event is about acknowledging and supporting those survivors. It’s also an opportunity for those who may not know much about this topic to learn something new. So, it’s an educational opportunity as well.”
This year, Take Back the Night was put on by Violence Prevention Educators, a group that seeks to educate the wider NDSU community about the prevention of sexual and relationship violence.
“(Take Back the Night) is about survivors of violence and allies coming together to share stories about rape and violence,” said Madison Schill, a member of Violence Prevention Educators.
Olivia Oland, president of the Women’s Activist Organization, added, “It’s especially important for college campuses. This event only happens on college campuses. It’s really about those survivors taking back the night.”
Dana Bisignani speaks to students, staff, faculty and community members before marching through campus.
“Reclaiming it,” Schill reaffirmed.
Oland also pointed out that NDSU’s sexual violence statistic is higher than the national average, something she believes “needs to be noticed and changed.”
This year’s theme for Take Back the Night was Title IX. Recently, Title IX has been in the news as Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has reversed the campus sexual assault policy, which protects students who are victims of sexual violence. DeVos’ proposed new plan will require better evidence before charges are brought to the accused.
“Title IX is important for rape cases,” Oland said. “This event is showing the importance of Title IX, which hasn’t changed with DeVos.”
The event began with a resource fair featuring community organizations like the Red River Woman’s Clinic, Planned Parenthood and the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center. NDSU organizations were also present, including the Women’s Activist Organization, Healthy Herd Champions and the Residence Hall Association.
“RHA is here to show that you can report (sexual assault) to a resident assistant and they will take it seriously,” Oland said. “Every group is here to show support.”
There were also free T-shirts, buttons and stickers. A separate room featured sign-making for the march, a photo booth and a station for writing cards to survivors who spoke at the later candlelight vigil.
Buttons and stickers were available for Take Back the Night participants, featuring the logo but also Title IX, the theme for this year’s event.
At 7:30 p.m., Violence Prevention Educators presented Dana Bisignani, the Women’s Center Coordinator at MSUM, as the keynote speaker before the march through campus. Bisignani discussed rape culture, violence sexualization and slut shaming. She also mentioned that she started at Take Back the Night as a survivor and was passionate to continue advocating for survivors after her experience.
“You are not alone,” she said. “I will keep saying that: you are not alone.”
After Bisignani’s address to the crowd, the march began. Bearing signs saying: “How we dress does not mean yes;” “No slut shaming;” “My clothes are not consent;” and “I take back the night because … I cannot take back the day on which I was raped,” survivors and allies marched through campus. Shouting, “Yes means yes; no means no! However we dress, wherever we go!” and “Claim our bodies, claim our right! Take a stand, take back the night!” the marchers garnered attention from passing cars, students walking around campus and students peering out their dorm windows. Looping from University Drive N. to 15th Ave. to Centennial Blvd., the march ended again at the Century Theatre in the Memorial Union.
Once there, Emily Vieweg spoke before the candlelight vigil was held to honor survivors. In open mic style, survivors shared their stories before the crowd, reinforcing the importance of Take Back the Night and events advocating for survivors.
“This event is not about preventing violence as much, but about supporting survivors,” Oland said.
If you are a victim of sexual violence, the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center and the NDSU Counseling Center are available for support, resources and confidential counseling.