Students and Bloomington locals gathered Thursday in Dunn Meadow to stand up for women's rights at the annual "Take Back the Night." To show their support, those in attendance took part in a vigil and listened to speakers such as health and abuse specialists. They marched to the Monroe County courthouse for a public speak-out where they listened to women give their own personal accounts of domestic abuse.
"Women's rights is something I find interesting and think everyone should fight for them," freshman Jackie Widau said. "My friend was raped and I saw how she had to deal with that pain, I don't want to see that happen to anyone else."
Kathryn Griffin • IDS
Take Back the Night volunteer Tyna Hunnicutt lights the candles of huddled students. Neither rain nor wind hindered the fight of students and residents alike to help support and raise awareness of victims of sexual violence.
Others in attendance had their own reasons for showing support, including sophomore Sky Adams.
"I'm tired of having to worry about my sister walking alone at night," he said. "And I'm tired of hearing about violence against women.
"Women are too often objectified, and all the implications behind that are worse than vulgar. It's shameful. It's depressing."
Kathryn Griffin • IDS
Students and Bloomington residents took to the streets of the city and campus Thursday evening to raise awareness of sexual violence.
With such chants as, "Stop the violence, end the silence," and, "Yes means yes, no means no," protesters marched through campus to express their support.
The Bloomington National Organization for Women, the Office for Women's Affairs, Planned Parenthood, the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, Women's Student Association and Campus for Choice sponsored the event.
In the U.S., a woman is beaten every 15 seconds, according to Middle Way House, a Bloomington organization devoted to providing programs for women and children who have been victims of domestic violence. Every 41 seconds, a woman in this country is raped, and it's estimated that every two out of four women will be sexually abused in their lifetimes. Of those, one in four will be raped.
Sixty to 80 percent of women rape victims know their attackers.
"This raises awareness about domestic violence, rape and assaults on women," said graduate student and president for Campus for Choice Rebecca Bartlett. As one of many of the event's organizers on hand, Bartlett was available to answer questions and address concerns of attendees.
"More people on this campus need to be aware of these issues," she said.
Junior Amanda Stevens, also an event organizer and president for the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, said the event often alters the lives and opinions of those who attend the event.
"It changes you forever," she said. "Women have gone through so much and have survived. Women need to know they can speak out and show support and know how to keep themselves safe.
"This shows them that they have a voice and we will not be silenced."
