Spring Break
Annual event to raise awareness of violence against women
"Take Back the Night" will include live music, refreshments, survivor stories and a candlelight march
Sara Norgon
Issue date: 4/23/07 Section: Campus News
Sexual assault is just as big of an issue in Eau Claire as it is in any other city and doesn't affect just women, said Ann McKinley, Program Development Coordinator for Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
On Tuesday night, students and Eau Claire residents will have the chance to say something about it. Eau Claire's annual "Take Back the Night" event will be held at 7 p.m. at the clock tower on the campus mall and will feature live music, refreshments, speakers, and will end with a candlelight march, McKinley said.
She said two goals of the event are to raise awareness about the issue of violence against women and to give survivors a chance to share their stories. Besides the scheduled speakers, which include McKinley, Amanda Mondlock, victim services advocate for the Center for Awareness of Sexual Assault and Rexann Lemke, of University Police, there will also be a "speak-out time," for survivors to share their stories, McKinley said.
She added that it's important to note, in over 90 percent of sexual assault cases, the victim knows the attacker.
"It's not a stranger-danger type of issue," she said.
Senior Mary Jo Klinker, who works with the Women's and Gender Equity Center, said this is her third year working with the event and believes it is an important way to get the message out about sexual assault.
"We need everyone to understand how important their role is in ending sexual violence," she said.
McKinley echoed Klinker adding that sexual assault affects men's lives as well.
"Sometimes guys feel they are blamed rather than invited to take part in prevention (of sexual assault)," McKinley said. "Men have a place in this movement too."
Sponsors for this year's event include CASA, WAGE, Bolton Refuge House and the University Police.
"Campus and community organizations are coming together to promote this awareness," McKinley said.
Klinker said a big part of this year's event will be the candlelight march at the end of the rally. It will begin at the clock tower and the participants will make their way down to Water Street.
"I think this will be a really powerful part of the event," she said, adding she hopes it will raise consciousness and give the event visibility.
Audacious, an all-female a cappella group, will also perform at the event Klinker said.
April is designated as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and, according to a press release "War Zone," a film that shows what harassing behavior looks and feels like to a woman, will be shown and discussed at 5 p.m. in Room 223 of Schneider Hall before the rally as part of this month's awareness events.
Klinker is hoping for a big, powerful event this year.
"This is an issue that affects everyone," she said.
On Tuesday night, students and Eau Claire residents will have the chance to say something about it. Eau Claire's annual "Take Back the Night" event will be held at 7 p.m. at the clock tower on the campus mall and will feature live music, refreshments, speakers, and will end with a candlelight march, McKinley said.
She said two goals of the event are to raise awareness about the issue of violence against women and to give survivors a chance to share their stories. Besides the scheduled speakers, which include McKinley, Amanda Mondlock, victim services advocate for the Center for Awareness of Sexual Assault and Rexann Lemke, of University Police, there will also be a "speak-out time," for survivors to share their stories, McKinley said.
She added that it's important to note, in over 90 percent of sexual assault cases, the victim knows the attacker.
"It's not a stranger-danger type of issue," she said.
Senior Mary Jo Klinker, who works with the Women's and Gender Equity Center, said this is her third year working with the event and believes it is an important way to get the message out about sexual assault.
"We need everyone to understand how important their role is in ending sexual violence," she said.
McKinley echoed Klinker adding that sexual assault affects men's lives as well.
"Sometimes guys feel they are blamed rather than invited to take part in prevention (of sexual assault)," McKinley said. "Men have a place in this movement too."
Sponsors for this year's event include CASA, WAGE, Bolton Refuge House and the University Police.
"Campus and community organizations are coming together to promote this awareness," McKinley said.
Klinker said a big part of this year's event will be the candlelight march at the end of the rally. It will begin at the clock tower and the participants will make their way down to Water Street.
"I think this will be a really powerful part of the event," she said, adding she hopes it will raise consciousness and give the event visibility.
Audacious, an all-female a cappella group, will also perform at the event Klinker said.
April is designated as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and, according to a press release "War Zone," a film that shows what harassing behavior looks and feels like to a woman, will be shown and discussed at 5 p.m. in Room 223 of Schneider Hall before the rally as part of this month's awareness events.
Klinker is hoping for a big, powerful event this year.
"This is an issue that affects everyone," she said.
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