Take Back the Night and safe spaces

This Thursday, April 14, 2011 will mark the 23rd annual Take Back the Night March at Columbia University, where students, faculty, and members of the community will march in order to reclaim the streets as a safe space. Recently, the existence of Columbia’s safe spaces has been called into question by the Columbia University College Republicans, and in light of this, Take Back the Night’s mission to reclaim a safe atmosphere on campus has never been more relevant. While we acknowledge CUCR’s apology for undermining the specific goals of Everyone Allied Against Homophobia’s Safe Space Campaign, CUCR’s argument that safe spaces “legitimize a mentality of on-campus victimization” remains very disconcerting, as it implies that our campus is some sort of utopia where crimes such as sexual assault do not occur.

In 2009 alone, there were 19 reported forcible sexual offences on Columbia’s campus and 8 reported on Barnard’s campus. Therefore, the implication that safe spaces create victims is nonsensical—rather, safe spaces like Take Back the Night and the Rape Crisis/Anti-Violence Center exist in order to create a supportive and empowering environment for survivors of sexual assault and their allies. Safe spaces on campus are not about exclusion—instead, they help move us in the direction of the idealistic world that CUCR is trying to promote.

One of the most troubling aspects of the safe space debate is that safe spaces for survivors of sexual assault were completely forgotten during the original discussion. This glaring omission underscores how much of a non-issue sexual violence has become on campus. Neglecting to identify the existence of sexual violence and the need for safe spaces for survivors at Columbia perpetuates a culture of victim-blaming, and excuses the criminal actions of perpetrators. A necessity of a safe space remains relevant, especially with the recent Title IX case filed against Yale for failing to eliminate a hostile sexual environment on their campus. The fact that sexual violence infiltrates all spectra of society, and disproportionately affects females, further asserts a demand for safe spaces on campus where survivors can escape the judgment and stigma often associated with sexual abuse. These safe spaces imply freedom from verbal and physical abuse, and more often than not, they allow survivors to respond to their experiences in a productive fashion. Whether delineated by four walls or a moving procession, safe spaces for many people are grounds for healing, from traumatic experiences to various forms of cathartic expression.

A question that comes up every year regarding the march is the women-only space in the front, and its relevance at a University that prides itself on pluralism. The decision to have a women-only space is an acknowledgement of the gendered nature of sexual violence. Up until four years ago, the march was women-only until it reached the sundial on College Walk for a moment of silence, where it transformed into a completely gender-neutral march. At this point, some female survivors, possibly reacting to the presence of men, stopped marching. With the change in the structure of the march to include men from the beginning, the group decided to provide a women-led safe space that would give comfort to these female survivors who would otherwise not march if it were not for the women-led space.

Take Back the Night applauds those who identify themselves as survivors of sexual abuse for having the courage to admit that they were wrongfully violated. After all, so many victims of sexual violence remain in denial about their experiences and wait days, weeks, months, and years before even verbalizing the occurrence of an attack. And moreover, because Take Back the Night is a safe space itself, we encourage all of you who are struggling in silence to march with us and join survivors, co-survivors, and allies in commencing your healing process.

Dueaa Elzin is a senior in Barnard College. Andrea Santana is a sophomore in Barnard College. Both are active members of Take Back the Night.