Take Back the Night (TBTN) is a foundation started in the 1970s in an attempt to address the issue of sexual violence against women and lend support to sexual assault survivors. It began as a smattering of protests but has grown into “a hub for information sharing, resources and support for both survivors and event holders,” according to the TBTN website.
EMU has taken advantage of this hub of information by hosting its own TBTN events for many years. This year’s events began Wednesday morning with convocation which included student, faculty, and staff panelists reflecting on the importance of discussing and addressing sexual violence. This was followed on Thursday night by a film viewing and discussion at Common Grounds. This discussion was led by seniors Ana Hunter-Nickels and Jasmine Wilson, as well as junior Gabriel McMillon.
The week was closed with an event Friday night at which people wrote notes of encouragement for survivors of sexual assault. These events were accompanied by lunchtime conversations in the dining hall.
Wilson, who is the coorganizer, said, “Student involvement is encouraged and welcomed in the most warm and necessary way.” This point emphasizes that without student action these conversations go nowhere. She followed this by “thanking everyone for coming out and supporting TBTN. I see you, I stand with you, and I love you.” This exemplifies one of the main goals of the TBTN movement, to lend support to those that have experienced sexual assault. EMU provided counselors and stated that these were Title IX exempt events. This meant that if someone needed to speak to a mandated reporter about sexual assault, they would not report it to authorities. The goal of this was to provide a safe space in which people could share their experiences with caring people.
The event on Thursday in Common Grounds opened with a viewing of Consent, a VICE on HBO Special Report. This documentary followed the complexities of what consent is exactly and closed with an instance of restorative justice in action. This example sparked a discussion amongst event attendees about the effectiveness of restorative justice and when exactly it should be used.
When asked if she thought that restorative justice should be used in every situation McMillon, co-organizer of the event, stated, “No. The concept of restorative justice is good, but I think restorative justice puts pressure on the harmed party. You have to sit down with the person that hurt you and relive everything.” This sums up a large part of the concerns that people had with the route that the documentary showed.
Another comment from one of the attendees, graduate student Cela Hoefle, was: “I appreciated that the event was run differently from my previous years at EMU; it was less focused on sharing the stories of survivors and more on educating the community. That being said, I do think the conversations wanting to be held might be a little advanced for that one session.”
The conversation surrounding consent is complicated, but there is a need to understand the basics before discussing those complex aspects.
However, these concerns aside, all in attendance agreed that the event was a positive experience and a step in the right direction. The conversation surrounding TBTN cannot be confined to a week, so there are plans to create more safe spaces for discussion and healing in the future.
