Christina Emery
Staff Writer
cdemery@valdosta.edu
VSU took back the night on April 23 when it hosted their fourth annual “Take Back the Night” celebration.
It was held on the front lawn in front of West Hall and ended at Palms Quad.
More than 500 people attended, including local sororities and fraternities. The event ended Sexual Assault Awareness Month with a bang.
The event had the theme” “When I said no, you stopped.” Throughout the month of April, many events have occurred to support the cause. Committee members were passing out bottled waters, t-shirts and informational pieces throughout the day leading up to the event.
The event started off with a video about sexual assault, and then the march began. The march was a walk between the Bailey Science Center and West Hall, along shirts on clotheslines that were made by different individuals stating their stories blowing in the wind.
Volunteers also passed out cardboard carvings of different individuals who either survived or didn’t survive sexual assault. The marches were then led to Palms Quad where their candles were lit for those loved ones or people they knew that this happened to.
The history behind “Take Back the Night” began in the 1970s, when women attended the International Tribunal on Crimes against Women lit candles and walked the streets of Belgium, protesting violence against women. It began in the U.S. two years later. Survivors spoke out and since then it has become a distinctive event.
The event was led by Leah McMillan, LMFT for the VSU Counseling Department.
She said she really was happy about the turnout and hope more come next year. She also stated that she hopes this will educate more people, and let them know that sexual assault can be unexpected.
McMillan  can reached at 229-333-5970 or email her at lcmcmill@valdosta.edu. Visit www.takebackthenight.org for more information about the national organization.