Campus Event Provides Emotional Release for Victims and Supporters
by NIKKI MERRITT
On October 27, 1998 at 6 p.m., a huge crowd of
people gathered in Heth Plaza. Those standing in the
chilling night air holding their candles anxiously awaited
for the events to begin.
The march was set off following the opening
speaker, and there was a central energy unifying
everyone. Those whose voices had long been silent by the
demons of shame, guilt, fear, and depression broke free
and lifted up their victory in chants "2-4-6-8 down with
violence, down with rape!"
Marching, holding only a tiny candle, your
small light erupted into a sea of glittering hope. Hundreds of others join you, crying out for those who have suffered, are suffering, or will suffer. Every
progressing hour more and more women, men, and children
are robbed of precious pieces of their souls that can
never be returned. Instead, these survivors cling to the
hope that this pain can only make them stronger, that they
can make it through this rough road to a higher ground.
Concluding the march, the participants sat huddled
together nursing cups of hot chocolate and listening to
the embodiments of courage get up one at a time in front
of the huge crowd and tell their stories. Each person
approached the microphone, sometimes shaking and crying,
and it seemed sometimes braced for impact. Gathering up
every ounce of strength within them, they spoke for
themselves and others they knew who had been victims of
sexual assault and violence.
However, sad as their tales were, the feeling
that night was not of melancholy, but of respect,
admiration, and most importantly pride. Pride that we were
educating, pride that we were changing things, and pride
that we were standing up for those who could not stand
themselves. As S.I. Hayakawa stated in his essay Our son
Mark, "Of course it has not all been easy-but when has
easiness been the test of the value of anything?"
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Name: n/a Comments:
Each time I see the group of girls stomping around and chanting, I figure a riot is going to result. I don't see how beyond rage this does anything at all for the issue. It's stupid.
Name: a male observer Comments:
Each year, the Take Back the Night ceremony goes on. I wonder though...what beyond "awareness" does it accomplish? We can all surely agree that Sexual abuse is wrong, and should not be tolerated in any way. Why though, is this nation-wide "awareness" program exercised? Are we not all aware that sexual misuse and abuse still happens? Is this to form shocking effects (like the AIDS quilt?) Shock-effect oriented groups do make their impressions, and strong ones at that. Why though do we have to listen to people chant non-sensical, man-hating barrages of holier-than-thou blatherings? I'm a good guy. I'm aware. I didn't need to be insulted in that way though.
