Come 'Take Back the Night'

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The fifth annual Northwest Arkansas Take Back the Night march will be Friday, April 27. The Pat Walker Health Center RESPECT group (Rape Education Services by Peers Encouraging Conscious Thought), a program of the STAR Central (Office of Support, Training, Advocacy and Resources on Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence), invites the community to attend and speak-out against violence and sexual abuse.

The event recognizes that all human beings have the right to be free from sexual violence, the right to be heard and the right to reclaim those rights if they are violated. Thousands of Take Back the Night marches and rallies have taken place worldwide. For the second year, campus departments and community organizations across Northwest Arkansas will participate in the second “Dress Down to Raise Awareness Day” while wearing Take Back the Night T-shirts to work during the day of the march.

“Violence is a community issue,” said Mary A. Wyandt-Hiebert, director of STAR Central. “Take Back the Night” is designed to create awareness, to empower individuals and to inspire action that will bring an end to [sexual] violence.”

Scheduled events for the Fifth Annual “Take Back the Night” march include:

• 6:30 p.m. — Begin gathering at the Fayetteville Square, Arvest Plaza

• 7 p.m. — Opening remarks, including a proclamation read by Mayor Dan Coody

• 7:15 p.m. — March from the Fayetteville Square to the Arkansas Union Courtyard by way of East Street, Dickson Street and across the UA campus.

• 8 p.m. — Closing activities at the Arkansas Union Courtyard.

Activities at the Arkansas Union include the Campus Clothesline Project with 1,500 shirts on display, a speak-out, a candlelight vigil, inspirational singers and more.

Commemorative glow-in-the-dark T-shirts are available for $10 per shirt from the Pat Walker Health Center and at the event while supplies last. Proceeds benefit campus rape awareness and prevention education.

This year, several  UA organizations and local business have joined the effort to raise awareness of violence and will wear Take Back the Night T-shirts and jeans to work on Friday, April 27, as part of the second annual Dress Down to Raise Awareness Day. Participating groups include:

• Pat Walker Health Center

• Arkansas Union

• UA Center for Educational Access

• University Housing

• UA Career Development Center

• UA Campus Card Office

• University of Arkansas Libraries

• The Breast Center of Northwest Arkansas

• Washington County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office

• A Voice of Her Own-Diane Brandmiller, PhD

• Sexual Assault Recovery and Prevention Agency

Participants are invited to attend Friday Night Live at the Arkansas Union following the march. In collaboration with Friday Night Live, No!, a rape documentary will be shown in the Arkansas Theater along with the Survivor Wall being displayed. “The documentary features sexual violence effects within the African American community, but has lessons that can be learned by all. It truly facilitates needed conversations. It is collaborative and open efforts that are critical to rising up against violence and changing cultural norms within all communities,” Wyandt-Hiebert said.