Raising awareness

By Jennifer Palmberg
The Collegian

Take Back the Night was first held in Germany in 1973 as a response to a series of sexual assaults, rapes and murders. It wasn’t adopted by the United States until 1978 when the first event had more than 5,000 women from 30 states participate in the march in San Francisco.

Take Back the Night has been an annual tradition at Fresno State for more than 20 years and that tradition continues this Wednesday.

During the day student groups and victim services organizations will set up information booths that offer educational material to students.

In the afternoon, a rally will be held near the Free Speech Area featuring speakers who will be offering facts about violence against women and information on how to reduce incidents and avoid victimization. In the past, the rally has also featured speakers who have been victims of domestic violence and want to share their stories to warn and educate others.

The event also includes a candlelight vigil march around half of the campus. The march is designed to raise awareness about domestic violence.

According to endabuse.org, one in three women worldwide has been a victim of assault, rape or murder with most crimes occurring at night. Thirty-one percent of women report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives. One in five women will be raped and pregnant women are more likely to be victims of homicide than to die of any other cause, the Web site said.

Anyone who is female or has a female relative or friend can be affected by violence against women.

Take Back the Night was organized by Student Life and begins Oct. 19 at 4 p.m. in the Peace Garden.

More than 200 people are expected to attend according to event coordinators.

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