Take Back the Night to be held on April 14
Since the month of April is Sexual Assault Awareness month, the Student Health & Wellness Department at Texas A&M University – Kingsville (TAMUK) will continue to host its annual Take Back the Night (TBTN) event from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, at the Javelina Student Engagement Center.
Established in March 1976, TBTN is a nationally held event aimed to end sexual, relationship and domestic violence of all kinds, according to their official website. Activities at these events typically include rallies, marches, and protests designated to taking action against any kind of gender and sexual violence.
TAMUK has held this event every year since the 1990s in hopes of raising awareness on sexual violence.
“The Women’s Center was the one who brought us all together as a committee to host events or highlight awareness to students regarding violence,” Director of Student Health & Wellness Department Jo Elda Castillo-Alaniz said. “[TBTN] will provide students the opportunity to become educated and understanding of what resources are available to them both on and off campus, as well as learning other people’s stories.”
At this year’s event, students can expect to learn the purpose of TBTN, statistics on sexual assault on campus and nationally. Activities following up will include a candlelight vigil, presentations from Title IX Coordinator Tasha Clark and The Purple Door and an open mic, which will give students the opportunity to tell their stories.
“A new thing we are doing this year after the open mic is a counseling activity that can help with the healing process of victims,” Wellness Specialist Esmeralda Gutierrez said.
This event will be open to anybody who wants to come together as a community to be supportive and for people who want to become educated on gender and sexual violence.