Syracuse University’s annual Take Back the Night event will be held Wednesday evening. The three-part event includes a rally at Hendricks Chapel, a march around campus and a speak-out to raise awareness of sexual and relationship violence.

More than 70 campus organizations signed the pledge to endorse the event, said Michelle Goode, a health promotion specialist at SU’s Office of Health Promotion. The pledge is meant to help prevent interpersonal violence by encouraging people to not be a bystander when they see it happening, she said.

Volunteers will hang paper stars around Hendricks Chapel with inspirational messages written by individuals who have signed the pledge.

“You’ll see all the different ideas that other people have for how they’re actually going to take an active role in helping to prevent violence,” Goode said.

The rally will start at 7 p.m. with an opening statement by Hendricks Chapel Dean Brian Konkol, followed by speakers including Dean of Students Robert Hradsky and Associate Vice President and Chief Equal Opportunity Officer Sheila Johnson-Willis.

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This year’s keynote speaker is Rebecca Ortiz, an assistant professor of advertising in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Ortiz’ research focus includes health communications and media effects.

Since joining the faculty at SU, Ortiz has been involved with both the Office of Health Promotion and Vera House. Ortiz works with health professionals to develop education campaigns discussing sexual health issues and sexual assault prevention.

“I like for my research to not just be something that I do and then it sits in a journal,” Ortiz said.

In her speech Wednesday, she hopes to deliver a message that is relevant and inspirational for everyone in attendance — regardless of how they are connected to the issues being discussed.

“Even though you may not witness this, you may not know that people in your life have experienced it, it impacts your life,” Ortiz said.

Interpersonal violence is about lack of power and disrespect, she said, which most people can relate to in some way.

Ortiz was previously a faculty member at Texas Tech University. In her three years teaching at SU, Ortiz said she’s noticed an increased confidence among students when speaking up against problematic behaviors.

Amy Buhrmaster, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, will be the featured student speaker. Buhrmaster is involved with It’s On Us SU and is also a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority, whose philanthropy is focused on supporting victims of domestic violence.

For Buhrmaster, one of the biggest issues surrounding sexual violence is the stigma surrounding sexual assault and domestic violence. She said the more people talk about sexual violence, the easier it is to reduce the stigma.

There will be two performances at the rally, including one by the Office of Health Promotion’s peer educators and another by the Take Back the Night Committee. People are encouraged to bring posters for the march itself, which will lead participants around campus.

Following the march is a speak-out, an event closed to the media during which people are welcome at the podium to express how violence has impacted their lives. Goode said the audience will be asked to put phones away to create a safe space without photography.

“It’s a very emotional event and can definitely be something that takes some time to recover from,” she said, encouraging people to take time for self-care.

Information about resources available both on and off campus will be available through tabling at Hendricks Chapel.

– Staff writer Meredith Clark contributed reporting to this story.

Published on March 27, 2019 at 12:01 am

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