Students Rally Against Violence

They came alone and with friends, from Quincy House and the Graduate School of Education and Boston University. They talked, they screamed, they cried and they comforted each other.

Fighting for an end to violence against women, over 100 people turned out for the annual Take Back the Night rally and candlelight vigil last night in and around the campus.

Sponsored by the Radcliffe Union of Students, the annual rally was the high point of a week of events directed at stopping physical and sexual violence toward women and raising awareness of the issues on campus.

"I think people don't think it happens here," said Melanie A. Brennand '01, one of the event's organizers.

Vigil organizers said this year's rally was larger than usual and linked the heightened interest to the activities surrounding two reported cases of sexual assault that occurred on campus last spring.

"I think in the past we've been kind of small," said Anna M. Baldwin '00, who also helped organize the event. "We really tried to publicize this year."

Starting on the steps of Memorial Church, the rally included a monologue by a member of Calling It Rape, a performance group dedicated to raising awareness about violence against wom- en. Others took the microphone to tell personalstories, emphasizing the prevalence of the problemon college campuses.

"I absolutely hate the fact that it happenshere and people turn a blind eye," said onesurvivor. "It's a very painful reality that I knowI'm probably not alone."

Some told the stories of friends and stressedthe importance of support.

"I think that anyone in that situation needsyou guys," one woman said. "This happens more thanyou know."

Assistant Professor of English and AmericanLanguage and Literature Ann Pellegrini also tookthe microphone, saying she was angry that there isstill a need for events like Take Back the Night,where women can "speak about what was supposed tobe the unspeakable."

"I'd like to think that such events are nolonger necessary," she said, "but they're all toonecessary."

"Even though these are stories of injury,they're also stories of agency," Pellegrini said,talking about the stories told by survivors. "Weare not victims."

She also praised activism to end violenceagainst women, saying that tangible results willeventually come.

"[Activism] is a legacy, a gift for those whowill follow you," she said.

After leaving the church steps, candles ablaze,the procession traveled through the Yard and upDunster Street, stopping at the MAC Quad.Protestors formed a circle for another "speak-out"to listen to more personal accounts.

Survivors and friends of victims told harrowingstories of sexual assault and physical violence.Some burst out with anger, while others broke downin tears.

Some students from another Boston-area schoolstepped into the middle of the circle and askedthe group to let loose a scream in honor of othersurvivors.

"A moment of silence? Fuck that," one of thewomen said. "I want a moment of screaming for allof the women who can't be heard."

The procession then moved up Brattle Street,chanting "end the silence, stop the violence." Ayoung woman in a basement classroom stoppedteaching to give the protestors a thumbs-upthrough the street-level window.

One of the participants turned to a visitor."This is absolutely incredible," she said, tearsstreaming down her face. "Draining, butincredible."

By 9:30 p.m., two hours after the rally'sstart, the candlelight was dwindling. Rallyersgathered on the grass outside Schlesinger Library,still telling their stories and expressing theneed for change.

Just before the event wrapped up, one manstepped forward and said the evening marked hisfirst Take Back the Night event. He glanced at themoon, shining over Radcliffe Yard as it had overthe MAC Quad and the Memorial Church steps.

"It's a really beautiful night to take back,"he said

"I absolutely hate the fact that it happenshere and people turn a blind eye," said onesurvivor. "It's a very painful reality that I knowI'm probably not alone."

Some told the stories of friends and stressedthe importance of support.

"I think that anyone in that situation needsyou guys," one woman said. "This happens more thanyou know."

Assistant Professor of English and AmericanLanguage and Literature Ann Pellegrini also tookthe microphone, saying she was angry that there isstill a need for events like Take Back the Night,where women can "speak about what was supposed tobe the unspeakable."

"I'd like to think that such events are nolonger necessary," she said, "but they're all toonecessary."

"Even though these are stories of injury,they're also stories of agency," Pellegrini said,talking about the stories told by survivors. "Weare not victims."

She also praised activism to end violenceagainst women, saying that tangible results willeventually come.

"[Activism] is a legacy, a gift for those whowill follow you," she said.

After leaving the church steps, candles ablaze,the procession traveled through the Yard and upDunster Street, stopping at the MAC Quad.Protestors formed a circle for another "speak-out"to listen to more personal accounts.

Survivors and friends of victims told harrowingstories of sexual assault and physical violence.Some burst out with anger, while others broke downin tears.

Some students from another Boston-area schoolstepped into the middle of the circle and askedthe group to let loose a scream in honor of othersurvivors.

"A moment of silence? Fuck that," one of thewomen said. "I want a moment of screaming for allof the women who can't be heard."

The procession then moved up Brattle Street,chanting "end the silence, stop the violence." Ayoung woman in a basement classroom stoppedteaching to give the protestors a thumbs-upthrough the street-level window.

One of the participants turned to a visitor."This is absolutely incredible," she said, tearsstreaming down her face. "Draining, butincredible."

By 9:30 p.m., two hours after the rally'sstart, the candlelight was dwindling. Rallyersgathered on the grass outside Schlesinger Library,still telling their stories and expressing theneed for change.

Just before the event wrapped up, one manstepped forward and said the evening marked hisfirst Take Back the Night event. He glanced at themoon, shining over Radcliffe Yard as it had overthe MAC Quad and the Memorial Church steps.

"It's a really beautiful night to take back,"he said