By: Julia Savala
Take Back the Night (TBTN) has been an ongoing movement for over 60 years. It is a non-profit organization run by volunteers and supported by sponsors and donors. According to their site, “Take Back The Night’s global mission as a charitable 501(c)(3) Foundation is to end sexual violence in all forms, including sexual assault, sexual abuse, trafficking, stalking, gender harassment and relationship violence, and to support survivors in their healing journeys.” TBTN has organized protests, rallies, speak-outs and initiatives in over 15 countries. Their statement goes on to say, “We foster safe communities through international events and initiatives. Take Back The Night Events unite people from every background, belief, and culture around the world to take a visible and vocal stand.” TBTN is a movement that inspires people to take time out of the year to show support to survivors, resulting in campuses all around the world recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month. La Sierra University, with the help of the social work department, is one of the many universities that organize events surrounding this movement.
The TBTN movement began in the ‘70s when media attention pointed toward incidents of sexual violence throughout the United States. In 1972, women at the University of Southern Florida demanded resources and safety for women on campus. In 1976, the movement reached people internationally as women from over 40 countries met in Belgium to advocate for the safety of women on the streets. Today, TBTN continues to organize rallies, both in-person and online due to COVID-19 limitations. TBTN partners with different artists, like graphic designers, musicians and writers, around the world who all support the movement. This collaboration allows awareness to be raised through different mediums of art, which empowers both the artists and the movement.
In a similar spirit, the La Sierra University social work department recognizes Sexual Assault Awareness Month through events coordinated by Professor Marni Straine, PhD and Professor Daphne Thomas. The events are hosted during Sexual Assault Awareness Week, which is the last week of April. Past events include self-defense classes, Chapel sermons and a Chalk the Walk event to write messages of support and positivity on the campus walkway.
La Sierra also participates in Denim Day, which will take place on April 24 this year. Denim Day began in response to the overturning of a rape conviction by the Italian Supreme Court. This decision relied on the basis that the victim was wearing tight jeans. From this, they inferred that she must have helped the person who raped her remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. Therefore, students are encouraged to wear, donate and write messages of hope on denim in solidarity with rape survivors and to protest against unfounded rulings like these.
This year, the social work department is expanding the planning of TBTN events with other departments on campus, such as the chemistry department, the communication department, OSI, Spiritual Life and more. These departments will plan their own events for Sexual Assault Awareness Week. This collaboration will bring the entire campus together to recognize the movement of TBTN. The social work department also has invited a sexual and mental health educator based in a Riverside Planned Parenthood to speak at chapel that week.
To donate or find TBTN events, you can visit their website at TakeBacktheNight.org. TBTN also offers legal assistance to those who are survivors of sexual violence. You can fill out the form on their website, or call their hotline at 567-SHATTER (567-742-8837). Regarding more information about TBTN at La Sierra University, you can email mstraine@lasierra.edu or dthomas@lasierra.edu. We invite all students to attend the Take Back the Night events in April and urge everyone to take a stand against sexual violence.
