As women, we are constantly on the go. It seems to be a part of our nature. A woman throughout her lifetime wears many hats. The same holds true for women in college. Many times we have important things to get done throughout our day while on campus, whether it be completing a paper, attending an event or study session at the library, or simply meeting friends for dinner, and sometimes that means walking alone at night on campus, making women an easy target. With all the recent scares around campus lately there is a strong desire to want to remain as safe as possible: suspicious packages, evacuations, and the latest suicide and plot against fellow students, and not to forget the recent national case of the Steubenville, Ohio football players accused of sexual assault against two 13 year old girls. All of that is enough cause to want to stay safe.
UCF’s annual Take Back the night is a rally and march for women against sexual violence and assault. Take Back the Night began nationally in 2001 and UCF’s chapter of NOW began having its annual event in 2009.
This Thursday will be yet another Take Back the Night event. There will be various organizations from around the Orlando community tabling and speaking about the services they offer. Organizations from UCF will be tabling and some professors will be speaking as well. Special performances will take place from the Glee Club and A Cappella group, “So Noted.” This is a great opportunity for college women to come out and learn more about ways to protect themselves while walking on campus at night.
The Take Back the Night event will conclude with a march around UCF’s campus to “take” back the night. Nicole Elinoff, president of UCF’s NOW, explained, “Many times, women are afraid to walk to their cars at night or go out at night for the fear of being attacked. This should not be something to fear about, and so that is why the event “takes” back the night.”
Additionally, ladies, try to avoid walking alone late at night and always take advantage of the resources UCF has. UCF’s Safety Escort Patrol Service (SEPS) offers FREE safe escort services on campus seven days a week from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Visit http://police.ucf.edu/Escort.html for more information.
As mentioned earlier, the next Take Back the Night Event will be held this Thursday, March 28 at the UCF main campus Reflection Pond beginning at 6 p.m. For more information, please visit http://www.facebook.com/events/513555005352975/?fref=ts.