This year’s Take Back the Night, a week-long event protesting gender violence, is expected to be a success due to a revised mission and University-wide support, according to Co-Chair of Take Back the Night Olive Goh. Support from 28 clubs and organizations as well as funding from 20 University departments reflect the widespread concern for gender-based violence on campus, she said.
Take Back the Night, which has traditionally focused on “women who have suffered or are suffering from violence,” has expanded its mission statement to include “all who have suffered from gender-based violence,” Goh said.
Participant Rachel Bouttenot (CAS ‘03), who pushed to include gender-based issues, said that amending the mission statement broadens the focus to include men, who may be more hesitant to participate.
The broader mission has attracted the support of more students and faculty for Take Back the Night 2002.
The 28 clubs represent what Goh considers “usual allies,” including GU Pride and Solidarity, and “non-traditional allies,” such as GU Right to Life.
“This emphatically shows that violence against women is not a political issue, and that more and more people are recognizing that fact,” she said.
Members of Take Back the Night also said there were happy to see that no “anti-Take Back the Night” sentiments, such as editorials and fliers being torn down, were apparent this year.
Despite lack of student protests, Goh said she feels the University has been less than accepting to students who suffer from gender-related violence. Goh said Take Back the Night asked for financial support from Vice President for Student Affairs Juan Gonzalez but has not received it.
“The University addresses the needs of its students in a number of ways that are supportive of Take Back the Night activities this week. Like any University-sponsored student organization, Take Back the Night receives university funding as determined by the Student Activities Commission to support its activities,” Laura Cavender of the Office of Communications said.
But Goh claimed that the University does not provide adequate support and protection for rape victims.
Bouttenot said that both the University’s adjudication process and the legal recourses available are flawed to the point of being “harassing.”
Cavender said that the University supports the needs of all students through Health Education Services, the Student Primary Care Clinic, Campus Ministry, the Women’s Center, and other individuals and organizations ready to help and counsel students.
The Georgetown Women’s Center said it offers several forms of support to Take Back the Night, including providing space for meetings and a storage hub for the week’s events.
“The Women’s Center collects information that students can access year-round and 24 hours a day, around a range of topics including violence against women,” Director of the Women’s Center Nancy Cantalupo said.
Cantalupo also said that she is proud that the Women’s Center’s contribution to Take Back the Night is so helpful.
“While I believe that Take Back the Night would be successful without the Center to advise and support it, I try every year to contribute to their success in whatever way I can,” Cantalupo said.
According to Take Back the Night organizers, the turnout for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday’s events was high. The Rock Show attracted over 100 students despite cold weather and a Sunday night performance.
The main event of Take Back the Night is Thursday’s Rally and Speakout.
Bouttenot said the rally is an educational tool and a physical sign of community support.
Organizers are hopeful that a strong turnout at the rally will show the diverse support of Take Back the Night’s mission, with increased participation by faculty and male students.
Goh said that the goal of Take Back the Night is to make their week of events obsolete by being able to live in a society that overwhelmingly does not condone and will not tolerate gender-based violence.
