Take Back the Night event to support survivors of sexual and domestic violence

Ohio University and the City of Athens’ Take Back the Night event will offer various ways for the OHIO and local community to support survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking and harassment. 

Take Back the Night is funded by Ohio University’s Student Senate and the Women’s Center.

“The Women’s Center is proud to collaborate with campus and community partners to continue to offer this important event,” said Geneva Murray, director of the Women’s Center. “As a virtual event again this year, there are a number of ways in which our OHIO community can participate, including by creating a highly visible presence in our physical spaces by participating in decorating one’s doors, businesses and homes with messages of support for survivors and sharing those messages through social media.”

Due to COVID-19, the live Take Back the Night event will be held virtually on Microsoft Teams at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 1. This event annually provides an opportunity for attendees to listen to speakers, including survivors. Participants must register to receive the event link.  

“Each year, this program serves to center the voices of survivors of interpersonal violence, and we are once again grateful to our speakers who, in their sharing, create a virtual community space for all who have been impacted by interpersonal violence,” Murray said.

Cali Leasure, who serves as the women’s affairs commissioner for Ohio University Student Senate and will be speaking at the event, believes the annual Take Back the Night event is important for bringing attention to survivors. The activities allow individuals to stand up for hard-fought rights. 

“Doing these types of things really lets survivors, like myself, know that they are not alone, and that there are people fighting with us every day regardless of if we see it or not,” Leasure said.

The Women’s Center and Take Back the Night collaborators also will host a social media campaign on Twitter April 1. Participants can offer supportive messages that the center can amplify through @OHIOWomenCenter. The center encourages posters to use the hashtag SurvivorsUniteTBTN and to tag @ohiou and @CityofAthensOH; #SupportSurvivorsBy #StartByBelieving #IWillWalkWithYou also can be used.

Posts are encouraged to be reflective of the diversity and inclusion statement. Prior to participating in the virtual Take Back the Night event, participants should read the FAQ and guidance for participation. 

In addition, Take Back the Night is sponsoring a door decorating contest for local business, community members, Ohio University offices and students to create visible statements of support for survivors of interpersonal violence. 

Doors, businesses and windows should be decorated by March 29 and should remain visible through April 1 to qualify. To be considered for the contest, submit an image of the decorations by 5 p.m. on March 29 using this form. Individuals who choose not to enter the contest are still welcome and encouraged to decorate. 

Full information about how to participate in any of the 2021 Take Back the Night activities is available on the Women’s Center website. 

Take Back the Night is co-sponsored by My Sister’s Place and Survivor Advocacy Outreach Program, as well as the following Ohio University offices: the Survivor Advocacy Program, Health Promotion, Counseling and Psychological Services, Graduate Student Senate and Housing and Residence Life.

“We are so appreciative of the Ohio University Women’s Center, the other co-sponsors of TBTN, and the survivor speakers who are persevering and making Take Back the Night happen in this virtual environment,” said Kimberly Rouse, director of the Survivor Advocacy Program. “The Survivor Advocacy Program continues to stand with survivors and recognizes the importance of having a safe, confidential space for survivors to receive support and to be believed. We are constantly reminded of the importance of holding space for survivors and we will continue to show up each and every day in support of our Bobcat survivors.”

Ohio University students can schedule a virtual meeting with a survivor advocate using the link here: https://www.ohio.edu/survivor/about-sap/advocates.

OHIO employees can also receive support through the Employee Assistance Program at https://www.ohio.edu/hr/benefits/employee-assistance-program. 

Ohio University employees and community members seeking confidential resources regarding interpersonal violence should contact the Survivor Advocacy Outreach Program: 77 East State Street Athens, OH 45701; Toll-Free: 888-597-SAOP (7267) and/or My Sister’s Place, which operates the hotline at 1-800-443-3402.

Equity and Civil Rights Compliance is available to those who wish to report incidents of sexual misconduct at OHIO.

For more information about OHIO’s efforts to eradicate rape culture on our campuses, visit www.ohio.edu/ending-sexual-misconduct.