MUNCIE, Ind. — Take Back the Night was more than an event. It was a night for survivors of sexual assault to come out, share their stories and connect with their community. Having nights like these allows survivors to reclaim a night that once brought them fear and pain.
The Ball State Survivor Support and Counseling Center came together to host their annual Take Back the Night Event at the Brown Family Amphitheater. With the help of Alpha Chi Omega, their goal was for people to come out and support all of the survivors, along with learning about sexual assault and how to prevent it.
Vice President of Philanthropy for Alpha Chi Omega, Angel Yelton, explained that she wants people to understand where the survivors are coming from.
“I hope that this is a light for people, a safe space for the community, for survivors who feel comfortable enough to share their story, and for the audience members to sit in another person’s shoes, to hear what it’s like from their point of view and just opening their eyes up to advocating,” Yelton said.
By listening to the survivors' stories, the audience was able to learn more about sexual assault and how common it is in today's society. Multiple organizations, like the YWCA and the Muncie Police Department, were there to advocate and to educate the public about sexual assault and how to prevent it.
The President of Alpha Omicron Pi, Ella Belsley, explained the importance of having organizations at events like this one.
“I think it’s important on campus, because of all the organizations, and it is like within certain events that happen, I feel like it is very prevalent and needs to be talk about so people are aware of resources they can talk to and go to if they need to seek help,” said Belsley.
After the survivors shared their stories, they concluded the night with a candlelit march, starting from the Amphitheater and circling the Studebaker Dorms before returning to the Amphitheater. The candlelit march was held to honor those who have survived and those who have not.
If you or someone you know would like to speak with someone about this, contact the Ball State Survivor Support or the Counseling Center to schedule a free appointment.
Contact Ava Lens with comments at ava.lens@bsu.edu
