Rachel described being raped as a freshman two years ago. Afterenjoying her first Dillo Day, she said, she was raped by anacquaintance as his friends shouted encouragement from the otherside of the door.
She was one of many women to share her experience with sexualviolence Thursday night at the 17th annual Take Back the Night, amarch against sexual assault and rape sponsored by the Women’sCoalition.
At dusk, approximately 700 people gathered at The Rock. Althougheach speaker told her own story, a common message prevailed: “Ihave survived,” a speaker said. “In fact, I will thrive.”
The crowd walked from The Rock through the Sorority andFraternity quads along a candlelit sidewalk.
As they walked, students chanted slogans such as, “We have thepower! We have the right! The streets are ours! Take Back theNight!”
The march ended at the Technological Institute, where moresurvivors shared their stories.
Vickie Cook, co-chairwoman of the event, said she hoped thespeakers would change people’s biases against survivors of sexualassault.
“Hopefully they’ll see these women and say, ‘I did exactly whatshe did’ or ‘I’ve been in the exact same situation she was in,'”Cook said.
At last year’s Take Back the Night, Cook told the crowd how shewas raped by a friend as she was in the midst of planning theevent. Her rapist was an RA at the time of the assault, she said,although he later resigned from his position.
Organizers led a silent procession from Tech to NorrisUniversity Center for an open-mic session. Through discussion TakeBack the Night aims to increase awareness and encourage thereporting of sexual crimes, Cook said.
“We’re never going to end sexual assault, that’s always going tohappen,” she said. “But people don’t report it because they fearwhat other people will think. That, we can change.”
Cara Thaxton, Victim Advocacy Coordinator for Horizon Center inChicago, also encouraged survivors of sexual violence to seek help.Profits from Take Back the Night T-shirts and donations willbenefit Horizons, a center that offers anti-violence education andsexual assault counseling.
“It doesn’t matter where you were, what you wore, what you drankor who you were with,” Thaxton told the crowd. “You did nothingwrong, and no one can tell you otherwise.”
Speakers said they were inspired by the supportiveness of thosein attendance.
“I am beaten, I am weary, I am jaded, but I am real,” Rachel, aspeaker, told a hushed crowd. “My rapist tried to defeat me, but hefailed.”
