Bluffton University’s PEACE Club is putting on Take Back the Night on April 8. Take Back the Night is an organization that advocates for sexual assault survivors, Title IX education, and providing a space for students’ voices to be heard.
The event consists of two parts—a guest speaker and a march. The march will close with a “speak-out” where students will have the chance to talk about what they learned and how change could happen.
The event will feature speaker Tim Mousseau. He will present “Reframing Your Story,” a presentation about advocation for sexual assault survivors.
Cierra Long, the Logistics, Presenters, and Performance Coordinator for Take Back the Night. Photo by Olivia Daugherty.
Cierra Long, the Logistics, Presenters, and Performance Coordinator for Take Back the Night and PEACE Club president, believed it was important to hire a male speaker for the event to show advocacy for everyone.
“The point of us having this event is to show any one can get sexually assaulted,” said Long, a junior history AYA education major.
Long believes holding the event will create a safe atmosphere for sexual misconduct survivors to feel solidarity and to educate the campus on Title IX.
“I think that Bluffton University has a negative atmosphere when it comes to sexual misconduct and Title IX,” said Long. “A lot of students are misinformed and unaware of Title IX policies.”
Genoa Arling, marketing coordinator for Take Back the Night. Photo by Olivia Daugherty.
Genoa Arling is the Marketing Coordinator for Take Back the Night. She is involved with the event because of her passion in Title IX reform and sexual assault awareness.
“Take Back the Night to me means changing the stigma around Title IX and sexual assault we have on campus,” said Arling, a junior social work and psychology major.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and 2022 is the 50th year anniversary of Title IX being passed. While this means a lot to Long, she said this does not mean change is finished.
“There are things that happen in history that are amazing and revolutionary, but I don’t think because a law is passed means we should move on,” said Long, a junior history AYA major.
To Long, Take Back the Night is an investment in students’ sexual and physical safety on campus. She believes it is time to take back the night to raise awareness to a topic not many people talk about.
“We are taking back the night, but I think eventually we have to take back the campus,” said Long.
