ESU Backup Insider

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is partnering with Women’s Resources of Monroe County for the 27th annual Take Back the Night march and rally today, April 20. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and this event is designed to raise awareness about sexual and domestic violence, support survivors, and empower men and women to feel safe at night, while also advocating for bystander intervention. Since the 1970s, thousands of colleges, domestic violence shelters, and rape crisis centers have held Take Back the Night events all over the country, focusing on eliminating sexual and domestic violence in all forms.

This theme of this year’s march/rally is “ESU and the Community Unite to Take Back the Night,” with the march starting at the Monroe County Courthouse at 5:15 p.m. Community participants will walk from the Stroudsburg location to Stonehenge on the front lawn at ESU where they will meet faculty and students at approximately 5:45. The group will then walk together to the ESU Quad for a rally that will begin at 6:15 p.m.

“This year’s Take Back the Night events highlight the role and responsibilities that all members of our community must play in order to effectively recognize, address and stop sexual violence,” said Doreen Tobin, D.Ed., vice president for student affairs at ESU. “Rape, sexual misconduct and sexual harassment are not simply ‘girl problems.’ They are problems that demean and cause lasting harm to all segments of our community through the abuse of power. By participating in Take Back the Night, we as a community stand against such heinous acts and stand for respecting all the members of our community.”

The Take Back the Night rally will feature participation from across campus, including groups such as PRIDE (People Representing Individual Diversity in Education), the Women’s Center, Black Student Union, Men of Culture Alliance, Community Health Organization, and Active Minds. Two ESU students will also take the stage to speak on the importance of male advocacy and the issues facing those that identify as LGBTQIA, especially the rise of violence against the transgender community. The event will include music by Regina Sayles M’14 and refreshments.
“ESU is excited to continue to bring awareness to this critical issue while also strengthening our collaboration with the local community and the Women’s Resources of Monroe County,” said Cornelia Sewell-Allen, dean of student life.

Take Back the Night is open to the general public at no cost. For more information contact Paige Fetterly, Prevention & Outreach Coordinator for Women’s Resources of Monroe County at paigefetterly@wrmonroe.org or Ashley Tucker, graduate assistant for East Stroudsburg University’s Women’s Center at atucker2@live.esu.edu.

The mission of the Women’s Center at East Stroudsburg University is to provide a supportive environment for discussion, knowledge, and programming that celebrates, empowers, and recognizes women and equality for all. The Center is a campus-based women’s center established to enhance the academic, cultural, and social experiences for women, and to serve as a forum for political discussion and actions to benefit women. All students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to participate in the Women’s Center programming and utilize the center for various events.

The Women’s Resources of Monroe County is a nonprofit, community-based agency in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, that provides free and confidential comprehensive support services to victims of domestic and/or sexual violence, their families and significant others; prevention education and risk reduction programs in schools and the community, and training to the professionals who work with the victims of these crimes. “Sexual violence and harassment are dangerous and pervasive in our community, and everywhere,” said Lauren Peterson, executive director for Women’s Resources of Monroe County. “This is a chance to stand together and use our voices to speak up against abuse and harassment.”