Enthusiastic whistles and chants filled the night air on Thursday—the sounds of an estimated 800 students who gathered for the 23rd annual Take Back the Night march.
“These are conversations that don’t happen enough, and so the fact that we’re openly saying, ‘We’re standing here, we’re talking about it, speak out,’ is definitely a conversation starter,” said Jennifer Levinson, BC/JTS ’11, the co-coordinator of the march. “It’s the only forum like that on campus.”
According to organizers, the goal of the march, which was founded at the height of the feminist movement in 1978, is to acknowledge the problem of sexual violence on college campuses and to create a safe space for survivors.
As they marched, protesters chanted phrases like, “Rape is a felony, even with a CUID” and “‘Yes’ means ‘yes’ and ‘no’ means ‘no,’ whatever we wear, wherever we go.”
The second chant hit home with many female students who said they feel targeted and harassed on a daily basis.
“When you’re walking in the street at night, some guy catcalls you, and you feel uncomfortable, even here,” said Ileini Romero, BC ’14 and a newcomer to the march.
“People just say, ‘Oh this is the college lifestyle, I guess this it’s supposed to happen,’ but that’s not true … It’s not okay to be catcalled, it’s not okay to use violence against us.”
Though participants were mainly female, around 75 male students were dispersed within the crowd, cheering and chanting just as loudly. The march had historically been women only, but in 2008 it became open to both genders. However, the space at the beginning of the crowd is reserved exclusively for women.
“There are a lot of women survivors, and it can be really traumatic for them to hear male voices, triggering emotions, and it’s really important that we maintain that safe space and distance,” explained co-coordinator Gita Deo, BC ’12.
Levinson added that the safe space also serves as a reminder of the history of the event as a women-led initiative.
“This is the best way we’ve found so far to incorporate everyone and still respect the history,” she said.
Erik Nook CC ’12, a volunteer at the march, said, “I think it’s important that men participate. It’s important … to open it up for discussion to everyone in the community and for everyone to be involved, so obviously you want guys to be here.”
As participants took to the streets, bystanders watched from their windows and doorways, cheering and clapping.
Members of the Police Department cleared the roads for the march, a process they gladly undertook.
As he ushered the sea of students across Broadway, one officer said, “It seems like a great cause. We’re happy to help in any way we can.”
This positive atmosphere did not detract from the seriousness of sexual violence.
Shelley Ramrattan said she recognized the impact of sexual violence on students and emphasized the importance of supporting people as they face it.
“If you’re out in the real world, you don’t necessarily think that there are people on your side … and you can feel alone,” Ramrattan said. “This event is an emotional support system, whether you’ve been through it or not.”
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