‘Take Back the Night’

This past Thursday night marked NDSU’s second annual “Take Back the Night” event. An event where the NDSU community rallies for an end to sexual violence. The event had a great turnout where students, staff, and faculty listened to speakers, marched throughout the NDSU campus (even stopping traffic!), and ended the event with a candle light vigil. The night started with people gathering in the Festival Concert Hall where people got to make signs for the rally. One sign boldly stated, “Just because I’m wearing a dress, doesn’t mean yes!”

People attending had a chance to look at some booths advertising organizations in the community that focus on the issues related to stopping sexual violence. They also got to listen to the student-organized educational program where three NDSU staff and faculty members were highlighted for their work with sexual violence. People learned about statistics on sexual violence on campus, and students who are also featured in a campaign on campus spoke on taking a stand against sexual violence.

Students, staff and faculty held their signs and chanted, then erupted on the streets as they began to march on the NDSU campus.

“Seeing all the students that ran out of their dorms to see and hear what we had to say was insane!” Alyssia Feders, a student who had partaken in the march said.

The night ended with an intimate candle light vigil where people told their stories.

“We know violence happens, we know rape happens, we know abuse happens and we really just want to get the word out at NDSU to make sure that doesn’t happen here.” Said Krista Padgett, a Student/Violence Prevention Educator who worked the “Take Back the Night” event.

MSUM also had a “Take Back the Night” event on their campus, which included a barbeque, poetry slam, a march and candle light vigil.