Staff Writer: Kyle Dietzsch

Email: kdietzsch@umassd.edu

As the sun sank down and the harsh cold began to bite, most UMass Dartmouth students were hunkering down for the night. Many would head back to their dorms to relax, or settle down in the library to study. One group of students, however, had a very different evening ahead of them.

On Wednesday, October 21st, a few dozen members of the campus community came together to take action against one of the most pressing issues facing the college world. They were participating in a movement known as Take Back the Night, a nationwide initiative to end sexual violence. This particular event was organized by the Iota Delta Nu Sorority, a group which organizes a Take Back the Night march on campus every year.

The group, which also included members of the Chi Phi Fraternity and the Society of Women in Engineering, assembled behind the library to begin their protest. As the circulated Ring Road, they shared a familiar message, but one that seems as relevant today as ever.

The marchers chanted slogans such as “However we dress, wherever we go; yes means yes and no means no” and “Shatter the silence, break the violence!” This campaign to end sexual violence felt particularly emotional at time when many are recognizing college campuses in particular as breeding grounds for rape culture. Cases like that of the woman who was drugged and gang raped at Cornell University have lead to renewed questioning of campus safety, particularly for women and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

It’s not just the stories of individual victims, though, that motivate those involved with Take Back the Night. Along the route of the walk, the event’s organizers from Iota Delta Nu stopped to share some harrowing statistics. These included the fact that, on average, one in four women will experience some form of sexual violence or harrasment during their college years. Additionally, the crowd learned that transgender people are far more likely to experience rape or sexual assault than cisgender people.

In spite of the sobering topic, one couldn’t help but feel empowered by this event. As the march progressed, those in attendance didn’t grow tired or become discouraged. Their voices became louder and more confident, and as many curious students peered out of the windows of their dorms, wondering what was going on, it felt like the impact was real. Many commented that they didn’t just feel they were making a difference to the school community; they felt recognized and comforted in their own struggles.

At the end of the route, everyone gathered at the library where they had begun. They all seemed to share a certain appreciation for each other, and a sense of accomplishment. Madison Borges, the President of Iota Delta Nu, and Amanda Ellis, its philanthropy chair, shared resources for survivors.

Afterwards, Borges and Ellis spoke to The Torch to explain how the event came together.

“We’ve been doing this for a few years now… and we’re going to keep doing it,” they said. They went on to share that they’ve been impressed with the growth of the Take Back the Night movement, particularly with how fraternities like Chi Phi have embraced it.

To date, more than 1,500 schools and communities around the world have hosted Take Back the Night events. As the world continues to examine attitudes toward sexual violence and push for prevention, that number is likely to grow significantly. Although the fight is far from over, UMass Dartmouth is certainly better off being a part of it.