Mitchell-West Center for Social Inclusion and Title IX hosted “Take Back the Night” during Sexual Assault Awareness Month to stand in solidarity.
“Take Back the Night” took place in the GUC Performance Center on April 10. The event featured free food, resource tables and a t-shirt giveaway. It also featured live performances by Wanda from The Wanda Band and Ghost River Revival.
The event was much more than that, though. It aimed to help empower victims and provide resources for those who needed them.
“Events like ‘Take Back the Night’ give space for healing, solidarity and action. They break the silence around sexual violence and remind us that we all have a role in preventing harm and supporting survivors,” said Alyson Bergner, Associate Director for Mitchell-West Center for Social Inclusion and Center for Women’s Studies. “For both students and the wider community, these events help foster a safer, more compassionate environment where difficult conversations can lead to meaningful change.”
A lot of preparation went into the event, as well as a lot of improvising due to the unexpected thunderstorms in the Florence area.
“A lot of thought and care went into planning this event—from coordinating with performers and community partners to ensuring we had resources available for attendees,” said Bergner. “We planned for every detail, including weather backups, sound setup, and giveaways to make the night both impactful and welcoming. It was a true collaboration between Student Affairs, advocacy organizations and folks who care deeply about this cause. And funnily enough, after all that preparation, the power went out! But we truly took back the night, literally.”
The event was to help create awareness and a culture of belief for victims.
“We want students to know they’re not alone,” said Bergner. “And that they have a community behind them that cares.”
