Students 'Take Back the Night'

T-shirts gently flapping in the evening breeze told the terrifying story as the notes of harmony spread over Dunn Meadow. The warm glow of candles illuminated the faces of IU students and Bloomington residents as they stood together to remember victims of domestic and sexual abuse.\nTake Back the Night began its annual protest of violence against women Thursday night, with student a capella group Delusions of Grandeur kicking off the evening with melodies and a little humor. Performing fan favorites like "Alright" and "Still of the Night" was special, the group said.\n"It is an honor to be here and support these women" said sophomore member Jon Mulholland. "At a rally like this I feel that it is very important to show five men who are happy to support this cause."\nSpeaking to the gathered crowd of 200 were Suzanne Powells from Sexual Assault Crisis Service, Kelly McBride from Planned Parenthood and State Representative Linda Lawson. Each stressed the importance of awareness of abuse and statistics of rape and other forms of sexual assault.\n"Rallies like (Take Back the Night) are what force changes in the community," Lawson said. "Change starts on the grassroots level. These movements bring awareness to problems and force changes in the local laws."\nBloomington has heard the cry for change in the community, evident in Mayor John Fernandez's declaration of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.\nAfter the rally the assembled crowd began the march to "reclaim the streets." \nShouting "women unite, take back the night," the group marched from Dunn Meadow to Seventh Street, up Crescent Street to Third Street, where the shouting of the protesters drew cheers from sororities, silence from fraternities and honks from the angry motorists who were caught behind the crowd.\nThe march continued down Indiana Avenue to Kirkwood Avenue, concluding at the Monroe County Court House, where the speak out began. \nThe assembled crowd sat in rapt attention, many with tears in their eyes, listening to students and community members speak of their experiences with rape and sexual assault. Protests were made about the plight of women in Afghanistan, date rape and drugging of women at bars and parties. \nSophomore Stacey Haas and Bloomington resident Renee Miller shared their experiences with rape during the open mic at the speak out.\n"I know that people are here to heal and speak out about violence against women," Miller said. "This event lets us heal as a community."\nHaas emotionally recalled the process of reporting her rape during her freshman year. She said her case was delayed for months by the Office of Student Ethics and the other student involved essentially received no punishment.\n"I wouldn't tell people to not report assaults to the university," she said. "But if I can prevent one person from having to go through what I did, it makes telling my story worth it."\nSharing stories of trials and triumphs drew emotional responses from the speakers and crowd, and showed that everyone is affected by violence against women.\n"Events like this bring together the university and community," said senior Sarah Dodd, president of the Women's Student Association. "Sexual assault affects everybody, not just the school or town"