Student Wellness hosted its third annual Take Back the Night Empowerment Festival for Sexual Assault Awareness Month on Monday, April 14. This year, it had two fitness classes, Cardio Kickboxing and WERQ Dance. Both were chosen with the goals of empowering and uplifting the participants by helping them to feel strong, confident and connected to the community.
“Take Back the Night is a global organization whose mission is to end all forms of sexual violence, including sexual assault, sexual abuse, trafficking, stalking, gender harassment and relationship violence, and to support survivors in their healing journeys,” explained Halie Darby, assistant director of student wellness. “We highlight this mission by sharing educational resources and encouraging participants to join us for two empowering classes to encourage them to stand strong and support survivors.”
Resource tables were also available during the event. They provided educational information about sexual violence, as well as offering resources for support. Free safety items, including key chain alarms and drink covers, were handed out.
In addition, a table was run by the Johnson City/Washington County Family Justice Center, a local nonprofit organization that provides a safe location as well as free services for domestic and sexual violence survivors and their families.
Student Wellness will be hosting other events and tabling throughout the rest of the month and into the beginning of May to continue sharing information and resources with the ETSU community. Some of these events will include Denim Day and Start by Believing Day.
Denim Day will be on Wednesday, April 30, from noon to 2 p.m. on the D.P. Culp Student Center’s Main Street. Denim Day is an international event that invites people to wear denim as a way of spreading awareness and showing solidarity with SA survivors and victims.
Start by Believing Day will be held on Thursday, May 1, from 1 to 4 p.m. at University Commons. This event will encourage people to start by believing someone when they tell them that they have experienced sexual violence.
“I hope that attendees will feel empowered and recognize that members of our community are here to provide resources and support them,” said Darby. “I also hope that they learn important facts related to sexual violence and understand that it can impact all individuals regardless of gender or sexual orientation—I hope they feel encouraged to shatter the silence and help to end all forms of sexual violence.”
