Taking back the night on campus

By Kirstie Hettinga
The Collegian

Sonia Villarreal was in a relationship for three years and three months.

The relationship ended earlier this year when Villarreal became the victim of domestic violence.

“He hit me and he’d never hit me before,” Villarreal said. “I couldn’t stay with someone like that.”

To fight back, Villarreal joined the Women’s Alliance and is this year’s president. Villarreal is responsible for organizing this year’s Take Back the Night.

This year’s theme is “Your silence will not protect you,” which Villarreal chose based on her own experiences.

“It’s been nine months since my boyfriend and I broke up, but here I am,” Villarreal said.

Take Back The Night will begin at 5 p.m. tonight in the Peace Garden and will provide a public platform to discuss and demonstrate against issues that affect women.

The event focuses mostly on violence that frequently harms women, including rape, domestic disputes and incest.

Coordinator of the Women’s Resource Center, Francine Oputa, has been working with Take Back the Night for 15 years. She said the portion of the evening where people share their experiences is always among the most memorable.

“The open mike is an astonishing time of people’s willingness to be open and honest,” Oputa said.

This year’s Take Back the Night is scheduled to include a performance by The Raging Grannies, who will sing songs about how war affects violence against women.

Oputa said other speakers will address the topic of war and domestic violence. Ruth Austin, who helped found Take Back the Night at Fresno State, is on the program to speak. Oputa said Fresno State President John Welty and Dean of Student Affairs, Paul Oliaro, are both scheduled to attend.

Part of the event will include a march at 7 p.m.

“People will be chanting — a very positive and upbeat atmosphere to symbolically take back the night,” Oputa said.

Women’s Studies department chair Loretta Kensinger said it’s important to stage an event that provides victims of such awful crimes a place to speak and feel welcomed.

“Take Back The Night is an empowering event for victims,” Kensinger said. “It’s vital that people don’t feel shamed as victims. We need to talk about these crimes.”

While Take Back the Night is put on by the Women’s Alliance and the Women’s Resource Center, the organizers

said it is important to acknowledge the men who have been impacted by domestic violence and also violence in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community.

Oputa recalls one male attendee at a past Take Back the Night, who said he didn’t think he would be affected, but was moved by a taped 911 recording of a child calling because his mother was being battered.

Gavi Rodriguez is a past president of the Women’s Alliance who volunteers at the Women’s
Resource Center. Rodriguez
first came to the Women’s Resource Center for help with an eating disorder. “I have a history, this was like a sanctuary
for me,” Rodriguez said.

According to Rodriguez, Take Back the Night is “about celebrating that you are a survivor.”

She also said “when men talk, it’s a much stronger testimony.”

The open mike portion of the evening is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m., following the march. Oputa said the opening mike will be coordinated by the Alpha Pi Sigma sorority.

“It’s amazing what an intimate process that is and how people are trusting to share their stories,” Oputa said.

“We’ve had so many students who have been so brave in sharing their stories,” she said.

The first year Fresno State put on Take Back the Night, only about 50 people attended.

Oputa said it has grown to include usually more than 400 people.

“I think that really speaks to the campus about wanting to know,” Oputa said.

Villarreal said she understands that people who attend Take Back the Night will not remember every detail, but she hopes they can walk away with at least “one little thing.”

“Violence is not okay under circumstances at all,” Villarreal said. “People are survivors, if I can get through this, anyone can.”

Ryan Borba contributed to this report.

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