White T-shirts adorned with phrases, stories and words of encouragement were hanging from a clothesline across the lawn near the amphitheatre on Wednesday for this year’s “Take Back the Night” event.

Throughout the day, as students passed by on their way to class, they were invited to donate to the cause and have their handprint stamped on a board that read, “These Hands Don’t Hurt.”

At 7 p.m., a large crowd gathered at the amphitheatre to discuss issues relating to sexual assault and to hold a candlelight vigil to honor them.

“There are so many people effected by this and I think honoring their strength is an important part of the solution,” said Johnson City resident Peg Macmillan as she walked up and down the clothesline, carefully reading the T-shirts.

Below, in the amphitheatre, graduate student Katelyn Kivett sang a familiar Tracy Chapman song with two classmates.

“Last night I heard the screaming, loud voices behind the wall, another sleepless night for me, it won’t do no good to call the police . . .,” sang Kivett and her classmates without a microphone. Their voices carried throughout the crowd, however, as everyone became silent for the performance.

A victim of rape herself, Kivett hopes to become a counselor so that she can help women who are victims of sexual assault.

“If we just reach one person, that’s enough,” she said.

“I know people who have been through this so I felt obligated to come on their behalf,” said graduate student Cierra Sauls. “It was emotional for me.”

Sauls said she hopes people will become more aware that people are being abused.

“I hope we can stand up against it as a community,” she said. “When people are aware, they can make changes.”

This Saturday, the annual “Take Back the Night” 5k road race and walk will be held. Registration behins at 7:30 a.m. outside Roy S. Nicks Hall near the Pedestrian mall on campus. The race will begin at 8:30 a.m.

This State of Franklin Track Club-certified race is part of an initiative to raise awareness and stop violence against women and children. All proceeds will benefit programs that support survivors of sexual violence.

Registration is $15, and entry forms may be found at www.runtricities.org.

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