For Sharona Kahn, BC ‘10, her first Take Back the Night march on Thursday was an opportunity to acknowledge the reality of sexual violence at Columbia. “This happens on our campus and we’re marching for our fellow students,” she said. “Clearly it’s a problem that is not spoken of very often.”
In its 22nd year, the emotional march across Morningside Heights drew an estimated 500 men and women who protested sexual violence with traditional chants like “Hey ho, hey ho, sexual violence has got to go” and others that hit close to home, like “Rape is a felony, even with CUID.”
“It’s a great night,” Dennis Pogan, a Barnard Public Safety officer said, clearing the streets ahead. “We’re out here to let everybody know what it’s all about.”
Founded in 1978, Take Back the Night is an internationally-held march to protest sexual violence. The event came to Barnard in 1988 without any University-endorsements or police support, but has since become an annual tradition in Morningside Heights that draws crowds from all over the city.
The marchers, some participating for the first time, stepped out of the Barnard gates—attracting impromptu participants—and took to the streets in an hour-long march from Morningside Drive to Riverside Avenue, from 113th to 120th streets.
The march was followed by a speak-out in LeFrak Gymnasium in Barnard Hall for survivors and participants to share their stories anonymously. “We don’t ask for volunteers and no one signs up ahead of time. It’s very organic so anyone can speak,” said Jen Levinson, BC ’10, and this year’s TBTN co-coordinator.
Barnard College president Debora Spar was spotted amongst the gatherers, hand-in-hand with her middle school-aged daughter. As a second-time marcher, Spar said in an interview, she was impressed by the turnout, particularly of the male population, which has been increasing in recent years. Clothesline Coordinator Alexandra Barrett, BC ’12, estimated that one-third of marchers were male.
“It’s very powerful to see how many people are here. We’re never going to solve the problem unless men get involved,” Spar said.
This is the second year TBTN has proceeded with a separate female-only section at the front of the march, leading the rest of the mixed-gender crowd—a division designed to honor the historical roots of the event and acknowledge that the majority of sexual assault survivors are female. Designated marshals from student groups directed the march and direct the chanting.
“The women’s-only section honors the initial intent of the march and I understand that the space is necessary for some people,” Sean Udell, CC ’11, said.
Udell, the president of Columbia Queer Alliance—who said he was the first male marshal in Take Back the Night’s history—added, “I felt really welcomed by everyone. ... I’m so proud of the way Take Back the Night has adapted to different conceptions of gender over the years.”
Kristin Cummings, CC ’11, a second-time marshal and a peer counselor for the Barnard Columbia Rape Crisis/Anti-Violence Support Center, said, “We live in a society that blames survivors of sexual assault instead of perpetrators.”
Amid cries of, “University silence perpetrates the violence,” Cummings said the chant is meant to encourage survivors to speak out. “Fortunately, Columbia ... has been really proactive in establishing sexual assault policies that help survivors.”
Another member of RV/AVSC, who chose to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the event, said there have been improvements at Columbia, and in her time at the Center, “The statistics haven’t changed in the number of survivors and incidents, but more are being reported.” Peer counselors were on site to support those triggered by either the march or the speak-out.
August DuPont, CC ’10, said it was disappointing at last year’s march when he was asked to move back from the female-only section while walking alongside a friend and survivor. “I feel in some ways it’s assumed to be an issue that men don’t take up as much,” he said, emphasizing that males are also survivors and allies in the fight against sexual assault.
“It’s important for men to talk about it,” added SEAS first year graduate student John Beck.
Nearing graduation, Sharona Kahn, BC ’10, commented that it was important for her to participate in what she considered “such an important part of Barnard’s history.” “It brought the idea to life. This happens on our campus and we’re marching for our fellow students,” she said. Judy Estey, BC ’10, also considered Take Back the Night an important step in creating awareness about the issue of sexual assault, “It’s not some abstract incident of women battered somewhere, it happens in our community.”
Leah Greenbaum contributed reporting.
COMMENTS
Comments will be moderated in accordance with our comment policy