Each year, one in four college-aged women will experience some form of sexual assault, according to Sexual Assault Support Services.
For SASS and the ASUO Women’s Center, this is an unacceptable ratio and a harsh reality. On Thursday evening the two organizations co-sponsored the 30th annual Take Back the Night rally in the EMU Amphitheatre.
Organizers said the purpose of the rally is to raise awareness and highlight campus and local resources for victims of sexual assault. The event included performances by the Radical Cheerleaders, the Sexual Wellness Advocacy Team and the women’s a capella group Divisi and several guest speakers. After the speeches and performances, hundreds marched to East 8th Avenue and Oak Street in downtown Eugene.
SWAT members said they gathered to fight the oppression of sexual violence and wore T-shirts that said “consent is sexy.” SWAT also put on a performance involving monologues and interpretive dance to create messages about sexual violence. University junior and SWAT member Eric Lake said he was excited to take part in the rally.
“I am here today because a lot of guys witness bad sexual behavior and I think it is really important as male to be a part of this work,” Lake said. “Everyone deserves to have the power and the choice to decide what to do with their bodies.”
The rally kicked off with an appearance by the Radical Cheerleaders, who brought enthusiasm along with their pom-pons. Squad member and University senior Cory Kirshner-Lira described her group as “festive, amazing and glamorous.” She also stressed the importance of having fun while addressing sexual violence.
“We are here to add some positive energy to really important issues,” Kirshner-Lira said. Perhaps the group’s most notable cheer was its closing act, when the girls dispersed into the audience while yelling, “No means no / it don’t mean maybe / don’t touch me / my name ain’t baby.”
The rally was emceed by two drag queens from the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Emerald Empire, the largest gay and lesbian organization in Lane County. ISCEE board members Rhoda Gravel and Lady Bluemingdale said it was important to be at the event because they wanted to take part in sending awareness into the community.
“This is a very important night because sexual violence affects all people; it doesn’t discriminate,” Gravel said. “People need to know that there are places to get help and there are places to go for relief.” Bluemingdale said if there was one message that she could create for the community it would be, “No means no.”
Rebecca Sprinson, sexual violence and prevention coordinator for the ASUO Women’s Center, said Take Back the Night has always had a large turnout because so many people want to speak out against sexual violence.
“Participation in this resistance is critical. Survivors and allies continue to come together to work to prevent this violence in the future,” Sprinson said. “Sexual violence is something we refuse to tolerate in our community and our anger is a just anger.”
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