By Stephanie Woodrow
One in five women will be victims of rape or sexual assault during their lives, according to the Justice Department.
One in four women have been victims of abuse from a spouse or partner, according to a Campus Oureach Service.
The Public Safety report for the University says in the last three years there have been 16 sex offences on campus.
Over 3,600 sex offenses occurred on college campuses in 2002, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Women of Action (WOA) are fighting back against the violence on women. Take Back the Night is an international rally, which unifies women who have been victims of sexual assault.
“The premise of Take Back the Night is for women to talk about their experiences with sexual assault and why they don’t feel safe in their environment,” WOA member Beth Puma said.
The rally will take place on Thursday, Oct. 14 at 6:30 p.m. and will begin in the Student Center greenhouse. The program will be broken into three parts.
It will start with a social where people can talk, eat and listen to music provided by Rachel Jacobs, a local singer/songwriter. Women are encouraged to share their personal experience with sexual assault and safety on campus.
“We’re looking to have an active dialogue about this issue so women can see that they’re not alone and for men to recognize and address the issue,” Thompson said.
Men will be grouped seperately for their own personal discussion on how they can help and support women.
The event will conclude with a candlelight vigil. The program participants will walk in a group to places on campus, which are considered unsafe for women to walk around alone at night. These places include the Intramural Field, Hempstead Turnpike, the back of Breslin Hall and around the Hammer Lab.
“It’s not very safe for women to walk around campus [at night]. [It’s] about women empowerment,” WOA member Abby Thompson said.
“In the dorms I feel completely safe, but if I’m out at night, even past 8 p.m., I would need someone with me [in order to feel safe],” freshman Stephanie Sottile said.
“I drive to my late classes because that way, I won’t have to worry about walking back by myself,” junior Allison Lerman said. “It’s a pain but I know I don’t have to walk later and it gives me peace of mind.”
Take Back the Night rallies began in England when women protested their fear of walking in the streets at night. They began in the U.S. in 1978 in San Francisco.
“We hope to make it an annual event,” Puma said.
WOA is the University’s feminist organization. They support women’s rights and have participated in events such as last semester’s Walk on Washington, defending a woman’s right to abortion. WOA is in its third year and has approximately 20 members.