October 30th 2018: Event start time 7:30pm
Take back the night is an annual event held by FLMA to give a voice to victims of rape and sexual assault. The event included readings from high profile cases such as Harvey Weinstein and cases that even happened on Slippery Rock’s own campus. FLMA also had shirts that students could purchase for $15 and all of the proceeds would go towards VOICE for Victims.
Maggie Calvert, one of the presidents for FLMA, spoke out about her experience with sexual assault and talked about how that event has hurt her mentally and physically, but will not control her life. She also spoke to me personally about why events such as these are very important to go to, and why it is important to make sure your voice is heard if you are a victim yourself.
After the readings had been read and the tears had been shed, FLMA led a walk around campus to yell out their frustrations and to get the attention of Slippery Rock students and the community. The night was full of rain, but that did not stop students from making their voices heard around campus. The quad lit up with colorful umbrellas and proud chants. The walk around campus lasted about ten minutes and then concluded at the gazebo.
The final part of the event was a candle lit vigil where everyone blew out candles to remember the people who have been assaulted, raped, or ended their lives due to the traumatic events. The candles were blown out simultaneously by everyone in the gazebo to remember their friends or to the victims all over the world.
Standing in the crowd of 75+ people (some of which are victims) was truly a heartbreaking but also empowering moment. As someone who has never had to personally deal with an issue such as this, it grounded my reality of the issues at hand when it comes to sexual violence.
Below is a slideshow of pictures taken at the event.
Image 1: October 30th 8:08pm - Right before the march started the quad was lit up with umbrellas in the cold rain
Image 2: October 30th 8:33pm - At the end of the ceremony attendees were given candles to blow out at the end of the event.
Image 3: October 30th 8:34pm - A candle given to members of SGA to blow out.