Students Unite to Remember Victims of Sexual Assault

Members of the university community gathered at a rally and vigil to recognize sexual assault victims on White Gravenor Patio Friday night, marking the conclusion of Take Back the Night Week.

Sponsored by the Georgetown University student advocacy group Take Back the Night, the annual week-long initiative aims to raise awareness of sexual assault and issues related to relationships and violence. In addition to the rally and vigil, the week’s events included an open mic night, movie viewings and a speaker series.

After speakers addressed the rally, participants were invited to light candles to honor sexual assault victims.

Take Back the Night co-chair Brigit McLaughlin (COL’10) called the theme of the rally “a message of solidarity, hope and prevention.”

Daniel Porterfield, vice president for strategic development and a professor in the English department, was the keynote speaker at the rally.

In his speech, Porterfield focused on the meaning of taking back the night. He called upon those present to create a community that embraces and respects those who are healing. He addressed the importance of listening to and providing support for victims.

“We all have the opportunity to bear witness,” he said. “Bearing witness is an important job.”

Also present were members of GU Men Creating Change (GUMCC), a student organization that works to involve Georgetown men in sexual assault awareness and prevention.

“[GUMCC] is, in a way, a call to action to get more guys involved and encourage men to not be afraid to stand up for this issue,” said Jordan Green (COL ’12), a member of GUMCC. “People are confined by the problem, even if they are not directly affected.”

GUMCC is not yet an official university club, but McLaughlin said Take Back the Night will help them as much as they can to achieve this goal.

The Corp donated food for the event through a Corp Philanthropy grant.

“For a small group, having someone help out with our fees and really support a movement like Take Back the Night is a great show of respect and support,” McLaughlin said of the donation.

According to the club’s student leaders, the week was a success.

“I think that participants left knowing that they as survivors are supported at Georgetown, and as allies, are not alone and have other people also standing up,” McLaughlin said. “I know that I left feeling safer on campus and more supported and that everyone who had been there really believed in the cause and was happy with how it went.”

Green said he hopes the vigil’s message of hope will reach more members of the Georgetown community.

“We heard very encouraging stories and remarks from the various speakers, and the message is hopeful and powerful enough that I believe it will spread beyond the people there that night,” Green said.