Lights, laughter and singing from a small crowd of students and individuals in the Kent community made the night brighter as survivors of sexual assaults shared stories of hope.
The Center for Sexual Relationship Violence Support Services hosted its annual Take Back the Night march in front of the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center Tuesday night.
Julius Payne, program coordinator for SRVSS, said the purpose of the march was to build a sense of safety where students do not have to fear being alone at night.
“We want to build that culture where if someone’s approaching you late at night, it’s to make sure you’re okay or to make sure you’re getting home okay as opposed to doing harm to you,” he said.
Todd Kamenash, the university’s interim dean of students, echoed those sentiments as he said attendees of the march embodied the phrase “Flashes take care of Flashes.”
“Knowing that we have each other, this is ‘Flashes taking care of Flashes,’” he said. “Forget about a catchphrase. This is what we mean: it’s people loving and caring for one another.”
Following introductions from Payne and Kamenash, Anne Face, the associate director of Safer Futures, and Jenna Miley, a clinical mental health graduate student and an intern for Townhall II, spoke about the resources available at their facilities for victims of assault.
Survivors of assault have called Safer Futures’ 24/7 hotline, at 330-673-2500, to talk about their experiences and to find resources to utilize, Face said.
Autumn Jacobs, a criminology graduate student and intern for SRVSS, shared her experience as a survivor of sexual assault.
“After being assaulted, I struggled mentally and physically,” she said. “I struggled in my classes, I pushed my friends and I wasn’t my typical happy self.”
Jacobs said she was thrilled after reporting her assault as she hopes it will encourage others to become comfortable reporting their assaults, so those responsible can be held accountable.
Following her assault, Jacobs said she learned to not allow the incident to define her and continued to help out on campus by being a part of SRVSS.
“Even though this happened to me, I’m more than what happened,” she said.
Attendees like Nelly Woods, a freshman pre-fashion design and merchandising major, said he chose to attend the march to show support for Jacobs, his friend and other survivors of assault.
“I believe [sexual assault] shouldn’t be happening period,” he said. “There’s no reason, there’s no excuse, there’s no anything for it to even be existing.”
Following Jacobs’ testimony, a candlelight vigil and moment of silence occurred to remember victims of sexual assault.
Payne then spoke about Arissa Shupe, former volunteer coordinator for Townhall II, who frequently attended Take Back the Night marches at the university.
He said Shupe would always be the first one to speak at the march to help others feel comfortable sharing their experiences, so to honor Shupe another moment of silence occurred.
From this march, Jacobs said she hopes survivors understand they are never alone and there are resources for them to utilize.
“There’s life after [assault],” she said. “They’re always going to have somebody with them even after the process, even if they decide to report or not report.”
Take Back the Night reminds survivors of assault they are not alone as the march is meant to encourage the Kent community to stand in solidarity with them, Payne said
“Everyone has a right to walk alone and feel safe at night,” he said. “Essentially it’s taking back the night from perpetrators.”
Adriana Gasiewski is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].
