Emotion and empowerment filled Monroe Lecture hall on Friday, April 15, as students met to stand against sexual abuse as participants in the event, Take Back the Night, sponsored by Campus Feminist Collective, Collegiate Women of Color and Student Advocates for Safe Sex.

Student speaker and freshman journalism major, Maria Saldivar said, “Take Back the Night was an incredibly empowering experience. Listening to survivors and victims was inspiring and the march at the end showed how strong we all are and how we won’t let anyone take our rights away from us.”

The night is designed to educate and empower students as well as inform them of Hofstra’s procedures in relation to sexual and domestic violence. The event also helps students understand what they can do to support survivors.

After a few short presentations, the floor was open for students to share their stories. Counselors and safe rooms were also provided for students who may be triggered as the program progressed.

Lara Nochomovitz, Hofstra’s Title IX Coordinator, expressed her feeling about the event.

“I’m really impressed by our students for creating a space that’s safe and empowering for survivors to come forward and speak freely and share their stories. I think that it speaks volumes,” Nochomovitz said. “For me, as one of the people who has coordinated how we respond to sexual assault, I want to be supportive of the survivors and because this is such a serious issue and my job is about creating a space that’s safe.”

Althea Bardin, M.A. Clinical Psychology and Ph.D. candidate at Hofstra University attended the event in support.

“Although I serve as a crisis counselor with the Office of Student Counseling Services, my participation this evening was motivated by a wish to support this event. I am here to support students. I am also a graduate student at Hofstra and understand that the responsibility to facilitate a safe environment belongs to all of us.”

Solidarity from students was also overwhelmingly expressed. As someone with experience with the violence discussed during the event, freshman and double major in political science and sociology Genesis Rivera praised its methods.

“The Take Back the Night event, in my opinion, was very successful and inspiring. The most effective part was the protest on the way over to the campus,” Rivera said. “As much as survivors need support and need to tell their stories, it is equally important to convince others to stop the violence and usually the ones that need to hear that message will not voluntarily attend an event like that. As someone who has experienced this violence, I felt that the rest of the event was great and supportive for those who were brave enough to speak out.”

Secretary of Campus Feminist Collective, Natasha Rappazzo, highlighted why the club chose to host the event and how it resonates with the Hofstra community.

“Take Back the Night is an emotional and empowering night. Survivors are able to share their stories in a safe environment where they know they won’t be judged or questioned. Take Back the Night is so important to have on college campuses because it is essential for students to know the resources available for them on campus if they are survivors or what to do if they experience sexual violence. Not only does Take Back the Night educate, but it creates a safe environment and bond between the people who come to speak out, show support and call for a safer campus and society for everyone,” Rappazzo said.