Take Back the Night is a worldwide movement that touches the lives of many people with its goal of bringing awareness to and ending sexual violence. This year, the University of Idaho will host the Katy Benoit Campus Safety Forum on Tuesday, Sept. 9, from 7-9 p.m. in the Agricultural Science Building, Room 106.
This meeting will feature speaker Marissa Cohen, who will explain what individuals can do to ensure safety in their relationships and how to support people going through these experiences. After the presentation, participants will be led out of the building to begin a memorial parade.
The first ever meeting of TBTN was in Belgium during the 1970s. The meeting had over 40 countries being represented and over 2,000 attendees in total. The first U.S. chapter of the organization was in 1973 at the University of Southern Florida, where they protested for better safety resources for women. Ever since, TBTN has been recognized nationwide.
The organization not only acknowledges women, but people of all gender identities, sexual orientations, races and ethnicities. TBTN’s focus on educating people about what to do or how to assist someone in these situations is both important and necessary.
Since then, communities around the nation have participated in these gatherings of their own.
UI hosts its own program in honor of a former student, Katy Benoit. Benoit was shot and killed by a professor on Aug. 22, 2011. The two had been involved in a sexual relationship. From that point on, UI has gathered in her memory to bring awareness to sexual assault.
Every year, students and community members of Moscow march through campus with signs supporting the cause. This year, the memorial parade procession will pass through various areas of campus, including Benoit’s former sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta.
Reese Garcia can be reached at [email protected].