Students gather to help Penn 'Take Back the Night'

Last night, Penn students and employees assembled in the Penn Women's Center to discuss how the University can "take back the night" this year.

The meeting began shortly after 7:30 p.m. with almost 20 women and a handful of men gathered to hear School of Social Policy and Practice graduate student Lauren Willner discuss the subject.

Take Back the Night, she explained, is an initiative that protests sexual violence and abuse. According to the official Web site, Take Back the Night events frequently include rallies, candlelight vigils and survivor speak-outs, but the initiative can take many other forms.

Although Willner has helped organize two Take Back the Night events at other colleges, she offered little guidance at the meeting last night.

"[Take Back the Night] is best run when students make it happen, when it is your energy and your initiative," she said.

Penn Police Lt. John Washington, who has worked for Penn for 20 years, said he could only remember a single march for Take Back the Night.

After a two-year hiatus at Penn, initiative will be required to return Take Back the Night to Penn's campus.

Many of the students present at the meeting, as well as representatives from PWC and Penn Police, were eager to discuss the form this year's protest should take. A particularly hot topic was whether men should be included in the effort.

College sophomore Drew Rizzo, social chair for One-in-Four, an all-male group raises awareness of sexual abuse and trains men to help sexual assault victims, voiced a popular concern.

"[Including men in the project] has to be very carefully thought about," he said, adding that sexual abuse is a very difficult topic for many to discuss.

Rizzo was concerned that having men present at a Take Back the Night speak-out might inhibit women from telling their stories. He added that he would be excited if men could be included as allies and that he is looking forward to the fresh perspective that male and female collaboration can bring to the program.

Those present at the meeting agreed that Take Back the Night is desperately needed on Penn's campus as a source of illumination, empowerment and solidarity among those who have either been victims of sexual abuse or know someone who has.

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