University News

Members of the Take Back the Night Planning committee at the annual Take Back the Night Proclamation signing with, seated, l-r, Naomi Taylor, director, WIRC-CAA Victim Services; Mayor Mike Inman, Interim President Martin Abraham, Multicultural Center Director Rocio Ayard-Ochoa, Interim VP of Student Services John Smith, and SGA President Colton Markey. Standing, l-r, TBTN Planning Committee members: Grace Davis, Krystal Vergara, Sierra Elsbury, Randi Frawley, Anakaren Salazar, Cortnie Schierman, Dani Harris, Keosha Westphal, Yazmin Laserna, Evan Baker, Angie Perez, Araceli Muñoz, Marissa Worley, Laura Casey, Kayla Henry, Azucena Pantoja, Carolina Lopez, Tom Depauw and Lauren Hoover.
[Download Print-Quality Image]


[Download Print-Quality Image]


[Download Print-Quality Image]

Take Back the Week at WIU Begins Oct. 21, Annual TBTN Rally Set for Oct. 24

October 15, 2019

Share |
Printer friendly version

MACOMB, IL – Western Illinois University's 30th annual Take Back the Night event will begin at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 at the Sherman Hall circle drive. The annual march and rally is held to increase awareness of -- and seek an end to - sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, stalking and other forms of sexual and power-based interpersonal violence, as well as to remember and honor victims and survivors.

This year's event, "Your Voice has Power, Say it Louder," will start with a resource fair at 6:30 p.m., with the rally and march to Chandler Park beginning at 7 p.m. Western Illinois Regional Council-Community Action Agency (WIRC-CAA) Victim Services and University Counseling Center staff will be available throughout the event. Individuals who need accommodations to participate can contact the Women's Center prior to the march to sign up to ride in a van that will be provided.

Anyone interested in sharing their story during the survivor speak-out at Chandler Park is encouraged to attend a confidential check-in from 3-4 p.m. or 5-6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21 or from noon-1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22 in the Women's Center lounge (Multicultural Center).

Part of the Women's Center's mission is to promote opportunities to celebrate women, collaborate in programming and outreach, and seek unity and understanding. The Take Back the Night Planning Committee, comprised mostly of student volunteers, has been working with WIRC-CAA Victim Services, various student organizations and WIU departments to bring the campus together to raise awareness for a ubiquitous issue.

"We are so proud to carry on this legacy event into its 30th year. We hope this event inspires action in all of us to support and believe survivors, as well as ending interpersonal violence," said Lauren Hoover, Take Back the Night Planning Committee chair and second year graduate assistant.

Other events during Take Back the Week include:

Monday, Oct. 21: The Clothesline Project, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Multicultural Center east lawn; and a Buffalo Wild Wings fundraiser, 5-8 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 22: Elote fundraiser, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. Multicultural Center.

Wednesday, Oct. 23: T-shirt sale and tabling, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Union Concourse; movie, "The Hunting Ground," 6 p.m., Multicultural Center.

Thursday, Oct. 24: T-shirt sale and tabling, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Union Concourse.

The Oct. 21 Clothesline Project Display is dedicated to bringing awareness to violence against interpersonal violence. T-shirts decorated at WIU by survivors of violence will be displayed. Additional t-shirts will be available for individuals to decorate the day of. The shirts will then be added to the Victim Services' Clothesline Project collection for display in April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Month, in the five-county region served by WIRC-CAA.

"The Hunting Ground" is a documentary that exposes rape culture on college campuses. Footage, expert insights and first-person testimonies, the film follows undergraduate rape survivors pursuing both their education and justice, despite ongoing harassment and the devastating toll on them and their families. The documentary has inspired new laws in New York and California and changes in campus policies.

For more information about Take Back the Week events, call the WIU Women's Center at (309) 298-2242.


Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing