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April 23, 2008
By Dustin Morrison
Contributing Writer
Nearly one hundred men, women and children from UIS and Lincoln Land Community College gathered together last Friday night to commemorate those who have been victimized by sexual assault in UIS’ first ever Take Back the Night event.
Participants met in the LRH Great Room for music, food and friends but most of all- for awareness and fellowship, each holding a candle as a vigil to those who were victimized.
Some shared stories, poems and a capella style songs with everyone on a stage in front of a banner with the words “Take Back the Night” to inspire those who have been victimized to come out to talk about it and share their stories with others.
Students were then lead outside marching to chants dealing with everything from the way the current justice system reacts to assault to inspiring those to talk about their experiences.
Students were then lead back inside where they were treated to pizza and the live music of Thornhill- a local band mostly comprised of women who are advocates against sexual assault.
Take Back the Night is an international event which started in 1978 in San Francisco. It aims to help men and women who have been victims of sexual assault by being an active voice for them.
According to the Take Back the Night international organization, events are made up of candle light vigils, marches and survivor stories- as with the event Friday night.
The event was sponsored by the UIS Women’s Issues Caucasus, the Lincoln Land Feminist Action Coalition, the Women’s Center and the Student Government Association.
Ashley Rook, chair of Women’s Issue’s Caucus, said “This event is especially important to our campus because we have had six reported sexual assaults this year.”
WIC hopes this event will have a long lasting effect on and off campus, “I hope that the Take Back the 
Night will create an increased awareness about this problem, particularly that men and women need to work together to end rape, and encourage survivors to break the silence. It is also a call to action for our student leaders and administrators to work together to make our campus safer by supporting our survivors and providing comprehensive sexual assault education for students” Rook said.
As for the long term effects to the UIS community of an event such as this only the future will show.
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