Last Wednesday, anyone walking through Main Campus around 8 p.m. would have seen a large group of people chanting and marching through the darkness.

The march was for Take Back the Night, an annual event that raises awareness about sexual violence. The event occurs annually in local communities, and dates and times vary depending on the location.

The Syracuse University march is put together by the Advocacy Center on campus. In recent years, awareness about the event has increased its annual attendance to include more than 1,000 people from the surrounding community.

The event begins as a march across campus. After, a smaller group of those who attended head to Hendricks Chapel where some will speak on how sexual violence has affected them. This open dialogue is an extremely important part of Take Back the Night. It is a positive and safe environment, where members of our community can open up on painful moments in their past.

The event is emotional, but is also a moment of significant empowerment for the women who participate. Hendricks represents a safe haven, where individuals can share their stories knowing they are in an honest and supportive setting.

This event is popular on campuses throughout the country. It is an opportunity for students to speak out against a serious issue in our society, and it continues to generate further conversation.

It is important for victims of sexual violence to have their voices heard, as our society’s disinterest in acknowledging and talking about the prevalence of sexual assault creates pressure to remain silent.

According to One In Four, a national non-profit organization, 1-in-4 college women have either been raped or have escaped attempted rape in their lifetime. In addition, more than 60 percent of the time, victims know their attackers.

These statistics show how commonplace sexual violence is in our culture. This largely stems from the portrayals of male and female gender roles in the media. A false representation of women has been built, where “no” means “yes” and a short dress is an invitation to make an advance.

This projected rape culture is often a difficult concept for individuals to accept.

One of the most obvious places this lack of understanding can be seen is in the music industry. Music videos, particularly of the hip-hop and rap genre, use power and control as a way to show sexual dominance. Violence is coupled with sex, and the two create a dangerously false perception.

It is no wonder sexual violence on college campuses is such a widespread issue, as young students are perhaps the most influenced by the endless sexual messages generated by our popular culture.

The fight against sexual violence is challenging because the fight to eliminate it is constantly being hindered by our mainstream culture. But Take Back The Night is working hard and making progress across the country.

Giving a voice back to the women of our society, who have been pressured into silence by the normalized perception of rape culture, is a powerful fight. Syracuse students should keep a look out for the event next spring, and join the effort.

Paris Bethel is a sophomore advertising major. Her column appears weekly. She can be reached at [email protected].

Published on April 17, 2013 at 2:29 am