Take Back the Night Promotes Sexual Assault Awareness
Buffalo State is sponsoring an evening of poetry readings, dance performances, skits, and speakers during Take Back the Night: Walk a Mile in Her Shoes on Wednesday, April 13, at 7:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall. It is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Take Back the Night is an international event designed to combat sexual, relationship, and domestic violence in all forms.
“Each year, Take Back the Night reminds me of how resilient our students are as survivors, and how supportive they are as a community,” said Paula Madrigal, assistant director of prevention and health promotion for Weigel Health Center. “Buffalo State has been doing a lot of hard work to increase awareness and services on the issue of sexual assault.”
Hosted at Buffalo State since 1980, Take Back the Night coincides with April’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The event is one of many opportunities held on campus throughout the year to raise awareness about sexual assault and violence prevention.
This week, Rockwell Hall’s prominent bell tower is bathed in teal light and residence-hall windows have been decorated with teal ribbons all in support of the event.
In addition, an “I ♥ Consent” workshop will take place on Wednesday, April 13, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. in Bacon Hall 211. The workshop will discuss the importance of gaining consent for all sex acts, what consent is and is not, and the changes in the SUNY policy on sexual assault.
On Thursday, April 14, Weigel will present Holly Franz, coordinator of the Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) program at Erie County Crisis Services, from 11:00 a.m. to noon in Ketchum Hall 106. The speaker will discuss the role she plays in cases of sexual assault, as well as the process of completing a sexual assault forensic evidence kit following an assault.
Buffalo State is also participating in Erie County Crisis Services’s Walk A Mile In Her Shoes event, Sunday, April 24, at 1:00 p.m. at Crisis Services, 2969 Main Street in Buffalo.
“This year, we wanted to also bring awareness to the good work and partnership that we have with our local Crisis Services agency,” said Madrigal. “We are incorporating their Walk A Mile event into the theme of Take Back The Night and encourage the Buffalo State community to donate, attend, or participate in the cause.”
Based on the expression "You can't really understand another person until you've walked a mile in their shoes," this event aims to raise awareness to combat sexualized violence against women and create change by asking men to walk one mile in a pair of women's high-heeled shoes.
In show of his support, University Police Chief Carey has agreed wear pumps if $1,000 is raised for the cause (more than $700 has been raised at the time of this article!). Take Back the Night attendees are encouraged to wear heels and bring high-heeled shoes to donate.
Organized and sponsored by Weigel Health Promotions, Take Back the Night is co-sponsored by the Equity and Campus Diversity Office and the Faculty-Student Association. For more information, call (716) 878-4719.