Annual rally challenges myths and promotes campus support services.
By Archangel Apolonio, Staff Reporter
Editor’s note: Content warning—this story contains references to sexual violence and abuse.
The annual “Take Back the Night” rally at CSUDH on Apr. 24 began with complete silence. Outside the Loker Student Union, in the Palm Courtyard, two microphones were placed in the Palm Courtyard outside Loker Student Union—one for public speaking and one for private sharing.
Some survivors are reluctant to talk publicly about their experiences, so the two microphones offered attendees the option to share their stories in the way they felt most comfortable. After a few moments of quiet, six individuals stepped forward to tell their stories.
The speak-out marked the beginning of an evening focused on amplifying survivor voices and raising awareness about sexual violence. Organized by the Women’s Resource Center in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the event also featured a campuswide march and a resource fair connecting students, staff and faculty with support services.
“Take Back the Night” always feels urgent to WRC director Megan Tagle Adams. She told The Bulletin that the center isn’t a confidential space, but tends to be the first place students turn for support after experiencing sexual violence or abuse. She said this is sometimes the case because they’re unaware of other resources on campus such as the Center for Advocacy, Prevention, and Empowerment, or CAPE.
“I want to make sure people know about [CAPE], which houses a confidential victim advocate,” Adams explained. “People often think they don’t know a survivor, but they do—the real question is whether survivors know you’re a safe space.”
Sexual violence refers to any unwanted sexual contact, including abuse, assault, and harassment. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, more than 53 percent of women and 29 percent of men in the United States have experienced it in their lifetime.
Rates of sexual violence are higher among traditionally marginalized groups, notably Black, Hispanic, and Native American women. Additionally, about one-third of adults with intellectual disabilities have experienced sexual violence.
“Take Back the Night” traces its roots to the early 1970s, when a group of women at the University of Southern Florida marched through campus wearing black sheets and carrying broomsticks to demand a women’s center. Their protest sparked similar actions at colleges and communities worldwide.
Organizers at CSUDH told The Bulletin that one of the goals of the event was to challenge common misconceptions about sexual violence.
“There are a lot of myths, like blaming survivors who’ve gone through sexual assaults,” said Karina Padilla, a CAPE coordinator. “[‘Take Back the Night’] helps spread awareness about those misconceptions.”
Padilla added that CAPE’s resources aren’t limited to incidents that happen on campus, and the center offers support to people who experience unwanted sexual experiences, intimate partner harm, and staking off-campus, too.
Student Psychological Services also provides confidential counseling to Toros. Norma Quintero is a licensed clinical social worker and SPS staff member. Quintero told The Bulletin she attended the rally because “healing happens in community” and “everyone deals with grief and assault differently.”
“You don’t have to come to a speak-out to heal, but if you’re experiencing pain or discomfort, come talk to us at Student Psychological Services, CAPE, or Student Health and Wellbeing,” Quintero said. “Some people heal through art, others through music or talk therapy—there’s no one way to recover.”