Reclaiming the night

The biannual event Take Back the Night is being coordinated this semester by 20-year-old Sarah Sullivan, a junior health-education and women’s-studies double major. After interning at the Chico State Gender and Sexuality Equity Center (GSEC), Sullivan became the Women’s Program coordinator and likes being able to put the theories she learns in her classes to practice. Her passion for ending injustices and both women’s and LGBTQ rights led her to join GSEC and help inform others, and she feels at home in the office, located in the basement of the Bell Memorial Union. The event is tonight (Thursday, Nov. 8); beginning at 6 p.m. (check event listings at www.aschico.com/gsec for schedule). A silent candle-lit march starts at Trinity Commons at 8 p.m.

What is Take Back the Night?

It’s an event that is aimed at educating the campus and community about the issues of sexual assault and violence against women. We also want to empower survivors and to help family and friends support those who have been impacted by sexual assault.

What are the different events going on tonight, and is there anything new or different?

Every time we have this event we have a women-only speak-out, where everyone sits in the dark and all are able to tell their stories of surviving sexual assault or violence. This year, we are adding a gender-inclusive speak-out, to make sure that all groups feel welcome and have the opportunity to speak out. The women-only survivors’ speak-out will be at 6 p.m. in the Cross-Cultural Leadership Center on campus, in Meriam Library 172. The gender-inclusive speak-out will be in Bell Memorial Union room 304.

What is the atmosphere like during the march downtown?

It is a really emotional experience, because this is such a serious issue that impacts so many people. The fact that it is silent makes it have this intense feeling that is really empowering. It’s an amazing sight to see everyone walking in support and solidarity of the issue. We usually have 200-250 attend, and we’re hoping this year is even bigger.

Do you expect negative reactions while you are marching?

Because sexual assault happens to so many people, the fact that anyone would be against us marching is just ridiculous to begin with. But there are always going to be people who disagree with you, and I think that comes from an uneducated perspective. But that is why we march and hand out fliers explaining why we are out there doing it.