INTRODUCTION

The first recorded “Take Back the Night” march in the United States was held in 1978. Take Back the Night – UCSB traces its lineage to that original march against rape and all forms of sexual violence. It is a student-initiated committee dedicated to raising awareness about sexual violence through activism, advocacy, and survivor empowerment. Members are passionate about creating a culture of consent and ending sexual violence!

EVENTS

HALLOWEEN WEEK

During the week leading up to Halloween TBTN hosted “In Solidarity: A Week of Action and Advocacy” a series of events focusing on the reality of sexual violence and rape culture in our campus community.

The week included a No Shame rally the day before Halloween whose core theme was “No more blaming the victim!”

As in past years, during Halloween weekend itself TBTN facilitated a Safe Space at the Pardall Center. Advocates from the Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center, UCSB Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS), and UCSB Health and Wellness, as well as student volunteers were on site. Campus Advocacy & Education (CARE) was also available through their crisis hotline number.

 TAKE BACK THE NIGHT SOCIAL

TBTN hosted a social in the American Indian Cultural Resource Center, where they also held most of their weekly meetings. The evening included food, drinks, and excellent conversation on fighting sexual assault in your everyday life. Attendees even got a free T-shirt.

V-DAY INFORMATION BOOTH

TBTN had an information booth at V-Day in Storke Plaza. V-Day is an international movement to end violence against women and girls. As stated on the V-Day website, on Valentines Day, 1998, Eve Essler—who wrote the groundbreaking Vagina Monologues—with a group of women in New York City, established V-Day. Originally staffed by volunteers, the organization’s seed money came from a star-studded, sold out benefit performance at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, a show that raised $250,000 in a single evening. V-Day’s mission is simple. It demands that violence against women and girls must end. To do this, once a year, in February, Eve allows groups around the world to produce a performance of the play, as well as other works created by V-Day, and use the proceeds for local individual projects and programs that work to end violence against women and girls, often shelters and rape crisis centers. What began as one event in New York City in 1998 today includes over 5,800 V-Day events annually.

ANNUAL RALLY

Each year TBTN organizes a spring quarter rally that marches from campus into IV. It started with a call for artists of all kinds.

And included making custom T-shirts.

The rally started on campus and took to the streets of IV. It was a wet and windy day. But the spirits of the marchers remained undaunted!

The marchers came together at Anisq ‘Oyo’ Park in IV to support each other. The evening included creating a safe space for victims of sexual assault to tell their stories if they chose to.

COMMUNITY FORUM

In May TBTN hosted a Community Forum in the GSA Lounge to discuss ongoing projects to fight sexual violence on campus and in the IV community. In light of several allegations that UCSB Judicial Affairs and other campus agencies and staff have not responded adequately to sexual assault victims, it included a timely conversation about how UCSB in particular can make real progress in the fight to change how our school treats survivors of sexual violence. It is ultimately part of a nationwide call for universities to take accusations of sexual assault seriously and make sure that offenders are disciplined, removed from campuses, and, in the case of criminal assaults, prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

LOCK-IN REAFFIRMATION

Student support of TBTN was reaffirmed in the AS elections. All AS lock-ins must be reaffirmed by students every two years. The TBTN lock-in is a small fee that helps countless survivors of sexual violence. Students clearly see the need for TBTN to continue its work of educating students, faculty, administrators and the local community about consent—only yes means yes!—, sexual violence, and never blaming the victim! No means no! Sexual violence must end!