On Wednesday, April 17th, Dickinson held its annual “Take Back the Night” event to protest sexual assault on college campuses and to support survivors. Take Back the Night marches have taken place nationally since the 1970s, after notable incidents of violence against women.
The event consisted of three parts. The night started at 7:00 in the Allison Great Room with introductions by trauma prevention educator from Dickinson’s Wellness Center Theo Nugin, a therapist, and Director of the Women’s and Gender Resource Center Katie Schweighofer. Following these introductions, two students recited poetry: “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver and “Beauty” by Simon. Three students then shared their experiences of sexual assault and all that followed. One of Dickinson’s a cappella groups, the Infernos, also performed a rendition of “Shake it Out” by Florence and the Machine.
The event’s keynote speaker was Justice Maddox. Maddox is the CEO and President of Justice House of Hope, a Harrisburg-based non-profit that supports human trafficking victims by providing them with safe housing, legal assistance, and other assistance. In her speech “Do You Know Your Neighbor? Unveiling Hidden Stories of Human Trafficking,” Maddox shared her own story being trafficked as a 12-year-old.
Maddox began her speech by playing local news clippings about her non-profit, including interviews with the first woman whom she helped to escape human trafficking. She then asked all attendees to close their eyes while she told her story. The gravity and heaviness of her story was evident in the space. As an attendee, it was incredibly difficult to hear.
The event then moved outside of Allison, as participants marched around campus chanting. Chants included “We have the power/we have the right/this campus is ours/take back the night” and “Claim our bodies/claim our rights/take a stand/take back the night.”
The final component of the event was the candle-lit vigil on Britton Plaza. Attendees were invited to step into the center of the formed circle to share whatever they desired; some attendees shared their experiences with assault and harassment, while others thanked coordinators for organizing the event, and some simply expressed love for survivors.
Emotions were high throughout the night, with many comforting hugs and demonstrations of affection. There were many resources provided to attendees, such as listed contact information for various help networks like the YWCA, the Wellness Center, and Dickinson’s Title IX Office. Additionally, certain volunteers, including myself, had bandanas tied to their arms. Attendees were told to go to said volunteers if they were distressed and needed to be taken to trained professionals at the Landis Center who could assist them.
Overall, the event was a strong demonstration of support for survivors on campus. Survivors were also given the opportunity to express their frustration with Dickinson and its handling of sexual assault cases on campus. This year, and for several years prior, Dickinson has scheduled its annual Day of Giving to be April 2, which is also the National Day of Action during Sexual Assault Awareness month. The school has been made aware of this overlap but has continued to schedule its fundraising event on April 2, despite survivors voicing their objections.
