Photo by: Michael Furman

“Sexual assault affects everyone,” said sophomore Liam Flannagan, and this is why he attended Take Back the Night last Thursday in the Driscoll Underground.

About 50 students, staff and faculty attended the event, which reclaimed night time on campus as a safe place for women to walk without the fear of violence. One in four women will be victimized in a rape or an attempted rape in their college experience, said the program director of Gender Violence Education and Support Services (GVESS), Dana Vaughn-Mgunda. Men are also affected by sexual assault and one in eight men will fall victim to sexual violence or harassment in his lifetime.

“I’m glad there [was] this many people here and that there is vocalization about sexual assault when it is so important to talk about and so pertinent to the college experience,” said senior Faven Habte. “I would like to see a greater awareness with the male community because it is everyone’s issue.”

Of the attendees, less than one-fifth were male. Habte offered that sexual assault is a social stigma for men to address and that is why more men did not show.

The event began with a presentation by Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) instructor, Sgt. Andrew Gress, who told his story of his friend being raped by three men near campus. It was at this point he realized he needed to take responsibility to prevent violent acts.

“Everyone has a hand in safety,” said Gress who is also a Campus Safety officer at DU.

Next, three female students related their personal stories about how sexual violence had affected their lives and how they became survivors. After the presentations the group moved outside for a vigil and held tea light candles in paper cups while standing in a circle on the Driscoll lawn next to decorated T-shirts, products from the T-shirt campaign earlier in the week.

After a minute of thoughtful silence, in honor of those who have been affected by sexual assault, Vaughn-Mgunda encouraged attendees to speak their minds. There were thanks-yous to the speakers and appreciation for their strength and bravery for speaking out and becoming survivors. Others spoke about for whom their candle was lit. There were painful memories shared, words of encouragement given, some tears and lots of hugs.

Vaughn-Mgunda is proud of the work being done however forty students have shown up in her office this year who have experienced some form of sexual assault or harassment and so she knows there is still work to be done, said Vaughn-Mgunda.

“Sexual assault is a tremendously under-reported crime,” said Campus Safety officer Stephen Banet. While it is a goal to see the perpetrator punished, there is also a great desire to see the survivor get the help they need, said Banet. Banet also said that Campus Safety does not force the police to become involved if the victim does not prefer it. They do advocate accessing services and support from places on campus like resident assistants in the residence halls, GVESS and the Health and Counseling Center.

 

Sgt. Gress’ Safety Tips

• Have good posture when walking alone, attackers want easy targets.
• Don’t use headphones, you won’t be able to hear noises around you.
• Don’t talk on your cell phone, you will be unaware of your surroundings.
• Make eye contact with people, you may remember an attacker’s identity.
• Don’t wear a hood up so you don’t cut off peripheral vision.
• Drink responsibly, alcohol is the No. 1 date rape drug.
• Travel in numbers, the more the better.
• Be assertive.
• Report crime when it happens.
• Take Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) class.