The Sophian

Issue date: 4/22/10 Section: News

Kristen Rosa '12 carries a banner downtown last Saturday night as part of the Take Back the Night event, which included a rally, vigil and speak-out.

While Smith College may seem like a comparatively safe and supportive space for women, the campus bubble does not insulate students from issues of sexual violence and assault. To highlight these continuing problems and work for a safer environment for women, Smith community members participated in "Take Back the Night," a combination rally, vigil and speak-out for sexual assault victims and allies last Saturday.

Take Back the Night is a national campaign working to end "the anxiety of walking alone at night," according to www.takebackthenight.org. The Smith group Students Against Sexual Assault (SASA) organized Saturday's event, which was co-sponsored by a diverse group of student organizations. The nighttime rally is intended to "shatter the silence around sexual assault and violence" and create empowerment, visibility and solidarity for survivors.

Participants gathered on Chapin Lawn Saturday evening for a candlelight vigil, then marched through downtown Northampton, chanting and carrying banners. Students identifying as survivors of sexual assault wore purple armbands, a way to convey "the scope of the problem but also to show our solidarity as survivors," SASA organizers said.

One attendee, Jack Nichols, called the event "fantastic."

"It's critically important for people here to know they have this support," he said.

Perhaps the most moving part of the event were the survivor testimonials. Student victims of sexual assault told their stories, including some anonymously submitted testimonials read by SASA workers. They spoke from various emotional stages: grief, guilt, pain and recovery. The testimonials starkly illustrate the ubiquity of sexual violence, as students told stories of emotional and physical assault occurring in homes, schools, families, relationships and even on Smith campus.

Some students read prepared statements or poems. Others told their stories for only the second or third time, and some students said they had never planned to speak, but were inspired to share their experiences. During the testimonials, SASA counselors circulated through the crowd to offer tissues and emotional support. The group also distributed information on hotlines and local support services.

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