The University of West Florida Department of Recreation and Wellness Services will host the 19th annual Take Back The Night event tomorrow, April 4 at 5:30 p.m. in the University Commons Auditorium.
Take Back The Night is an international event that serves to educate, protest and bring awareness of all forms of violence by creating safe communities and respectful relationships through awareness events and initiatives. Throughout its history, Take Back The Night has given both women and men a space to address these social ills and empowers survivors in the healing process.
Take Back The Night will commence with opening remarks from UWF President Martha D. Saunders. The event will showcase six student performers and one survivor speaker. The event will close with a campus march, where students “take back the night†with chants of activism and support for survivors. Free t-shirts and food will be available for attendees.
This year’s event theme, “You Can’t Save the World Alone,†was inspired by the popularity of superhero films. The theme focuses on bystander intervention, educating students of their abilities to change the UWF community by speaking out as an empowered bystander.
According to Alicia Cambron, assistant director of Wellness Services, Take Back The Night is a good place for students who want to engage with other activists or survivors in our community, but do not know where to start.
“Although this year has been a record year for people coming forward and sharing their experiences with sexual violence, I think that our students sometimes don’t believe those things are unfortunately happening in our community as well,†Cambron said. “Take Back the Night helps give our students an opportunity to tell their stories and feel supported.â€
For additional information about Take Back The Night, visit takebackthenight.org.
For more information about Take Back The Night at UWF, visit the Wellness Services webpage.
