Take Back the Night
October 2006
Schedule of Events

Take Back the Night is an annual event at Wesleyan University
and college campuses nationwide to raise awareness about sexual violence.

Planned by the Take Back the Night Planning Committee
with support from WesWELL's Peer Health Advocates

Unless otherwise noted, please direct questions on these events to Cori Phillips '08 at cphillips@wes.

Click on an event or activity for more information:
Narrative Submissions
In order to represent the voices of those who may not be otherwise heard, we are seeking written submissions of narratives from those who have experienced sexual assault or been impacted by sexual violence. The content of the narrative is entirely up to the author and will not be edited before being read.

Narratives will be read anonymously on the author's behalf at a Speakout Circle during the TBTN March. The readers will be reminded that they should not read the narratives dramatically, and that they need to be sensitive and respectful to the author's experience.

If you wish to submit a narrative, please send it through campus mail to WesWELL, Davison Health Center by Wednesday October 18th. You may also submit it by email to weswell@wesleyan.edu. While all submissions will remain confidential and anonymous, you may choose to send it from a non-Wesleyan email account that does not use your name or identify you in any manner.

Clothesline Project

  • What is the Clothesline Project?
    The Clothesline Project (CLP) is a program started on Cape Cod, MA, in 1990 to address the issue of violence against women. It is a vehicle for women affected by violence to express their emotions by decorating a shirt. They then hang the shirt on a clothesline to be viewed by others as testimony to the problem of violence against women.

    The CLP is in it's second year at Wesleyan, but it has been used in association with Take Back the Night or on its own at other schools. At Wesleyan, these “shirts” will instead be pieces of white fabric (or flags), to be decorated by students affected by sexual assault or in support of those who have.  The CLP was initially started as a women-specific event, but Wesleyan’s event will be open to all students.  
     

  • What can I put on my flag?
    Wesleyan’s CLP encourages students who have been affected by sexual assault to decorate a flag.  Students who have not been affected are also invited to decorate flags in support of those who have.  

    Flags can be used to say anything you need to about sexual assault, whether it is your own story, a message to an abuser or victim, a picture, or a fact.  All of the flags are completely anonymous, so say whatever you need to. However, please do not use names on your flag, unless you have express permission.

    This project has been an extremely powerful tool at other schools, and it is also a very emotional issue.  Please make a flag, but please also take this seriously.
     

  • How can I get involved in the Clothesline Project?
    Flags will be available outside of the Campus Center and Mocon through October 6th and can be anonymously returned to P.O Box 5327.  Flags will also be available through RAs. 
     

  • When and where will the Clothesline Project be displayed?
    The CLP will be installed in the Zelnick Pavilion during the week of October 9th, which is the week before Take Back the Night.
Supporting Survivors of Sexual Assault & Domestic Abuse Workshop
Monday, October 9th ~ 6:00 to 8:00pm
Woodhead lounge (Exley Science Center 184)
Have a close friend or partner who is a survivor of sexual assault, domestic abuse, or both? Want to learn more ways to support the survivors in your life? Come talk about support techniques, learn what questions are important to ask about triggers (and what triggers are), and prepare to support your loved one(s) and yourself in ways that work for both of you. These are life-long skills, but especially important given the upcoming events related to Take Back the Night. This workshop is open to all. Light snacks and dessert provided.

Facilitated by two engaging, trained and experienced domestic violence and sexual assault educators/advocates who are queer/straight/BDSM/etc. friendly, committed to social justice, and unaffiliated with Wesleyan.

Questions? Contact pkruza@wes.
Sponsored by WesWELL's Peer Health Advocates

Pre-Forums and Post-Forums
Three pre-forums will be held for students to discuss the ways sexual assault impacts their individual communities. In addition to the Thursday night debriefing sessions, one post-forum will be held for students who are friends/partners of survivors who wish to learn more about how to be supportive within limits. 
 

  • Men's Pre-Forum
    Wednesday, October 18 ~ 4:30 to 6:00pm
    Davenport Campus Center, Meeting Room 1
    Contact nbenacerraf@wes for more info
     

  • Student of Color Pre-Forum
    Wednesday, October 18 ~ 6:30 to 8:00pm
    Davenport Campus Center, Meeting Room 1
    Contact aruffin@wes for more info
     

  • Queer Pre-Forum
    Wednesday, October 18 ~ 8:30 to 10:00pm
    Davenport Campus Center, Meeting Room 1
    Contact pkruza@wes for more info
     

  • Friends of Survivors Post-Forum
    Friday, October 20th ~ 4:00pm
    COL Lounge
    Contact alinsky@wes fo    r more info

Take Back the Night Rally & March
Thursday, October 19th at 7:00pm
Steps of Olin Library
Take Back the Night is an annual event at Wesleyan University and college campuses nationwide to raise awareness about sexual violence.  This event is an opportunity for the Wesleyan community to gather in support of survivors of sexual assault and for those survivors to share their stories in a safe space. The concept behind "taking back the night" is that the night should be safe for everyone. 

Beginning with a rally at the steps of Olin at 7:00pm on October 19th, we will march to several locations on campus for speak-out circles (North College Lawn, the CFA courtyard, and Andrus field), concluding with a candlelight vigil.  Everyone is encouraged to attend this important and powerful event.       

Post-March Debriefing Sessions
Thursday, October 19th
After the conclusion of the March
Join a post-march debriefing session to process what you have experienced at the Take Back the Night March and heard in the Speakout Circles. Facilitators will be on hand to lead the discussions in these designated safe spaces.

  • Sessions Open to All Students: Fauver Frosh & Hewitt Lounges

  • Session Open to Female-Identified & Transgendered Students Only: Butt B Lounge

The Office of Behavioral Health for Students will be open for any student who wishes to talk with a therapist until 9:30pm on Thursday night during the March. Enter the Davison Health Center from the parking lot (next to Malcolm X House). After this time, students may contact the 24-hour on-call therapist by calling 685-2910 and following the voicemail prompts.

Resources

If you are interested in learning more about sexual assault and related issues, please click on the following links:

If you wish to speak to someone in a confidential setting, please contact:

  • Office of Behavioral Health for Students, 685.2910
    Davison Health Center, 327 High Street
    www.wesleyan.edu/obhs/
    On-call therapist available 24/7; call 685.2910 and follow the voicemail prompts.
     
  • Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services
    www.connsacs.org
    Connecticut Statewide 24 Hour Toll Free Hotline
    • 1-888-999-5545 English
    • 1-888-568-8332 Español
       
  • The Network/La Red
    Ending abuse in lesbian, bisexual women's and transgender communities
    www.thenetworklared.org/
Recruitment for "Unspeakable Acts"
WesWELL is recruiting current Wesleyan students to perform in the "Unspeakable Acts" skits on sexual assault and relationship violence during New Student Orientation 2007. Click here for more information on getting involved.

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revised 02/20/2008