Several survivors of sexual violence and friends of victims came together to tell their stories about overcoming the trauma of sexual assault and called for students to be empowered by their message at “Take Back the Night,” an annual event hosted by Rape and Gender Awareness (RAGE) last Wednesday in the Harper Humanities Garden.

To a crowd of about 70 students, the speakers focused on telling stories to empower those affected by sexual violence and the importance of building a community of support. The speakers included undergraduate students sophomore Chris Guthrie, junior Sarah Francois, junior Amber Morse and graduate student Michael Neil. Other speakers included Elise Fieldman, Katherine Grove and Amanda Matthews.

“When we tell our stories, we do not only empower ourselves, but we empower those who listen,” said Morse, president of RAGE.

Fieldman told the audience about when a police officer victimized her. She was on spring break in Fort Lauderdale and had become separated from her friends after a night out. She called the police for protection and the officer who responded raped her while he was still in uniform.

“There is nothing a man or woman can do, no matter their actions, to have their boundaries violated,” Fieldman said. “It did not matter what I was wearing or how much I had drank, I did not deserve to be raped by a police officer that night.”

Amanda Matthews also spoke of the personal effect of rape and gender violence on her own life. She told the story of her friend, a senior in high school, who was murdered by an older boyfriend after getting into a fight with him on her way to school one morning.

“Every day women are degraded, abused and objectified, and society still thinks of it as none of their business,” she said

The event also focused on society’s responsibility to raise awareness and bring the issue of sexual violence to the public consciousness.

“I have friends, people who are important to me, people whom I love, who have stories that need to be remembered,” said graduate student Michael Neil, who has attended Take Back the Night since 2000.

Neil emphasized the proximity of these issues to DU students.

“When you look at the numbers, those numbers include our community,” said Morse. “But when you don’t talk about it you are complacent and send the message that you are okay with it. It is so important for these people to see faces of caring individuals.”

Take Back the Night at DU is part of a national movement, which has been present on campuses since 1978. Rallies nationwide feature the same story-sharing format, as well as a candlelight vigil.