Students plan to 'take back the night'

By Elisa Ung
Staff Writer

Take Back the Night, an all-day campus-wide event dealing with issues such as violence, fear and the assault of women and men, will take place from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. today.
The event, which is sponsored by the Women's Student Assembly, is geared toward everyone on campus, not just women, said Gurpal Dosanjh, a coordinator of the event.
"Even though it's women's issues, we want men to be involved, because otherwise it won't be as effective," said Dosanjh, a senior majoring in business.
The event starts with performances and a forum by the Theatre of the Oppressed in E.F. Hutton Park.
There will also be a string in E.F. Hutton Park, where people can tie pink ribbons "to commemorate anyone who's been a victim of violence," said Lynne Elson, one of the coordinators of the event.
"Violence is meant generally, not just rape," she said.
At 5 p.m., there will be a performance by Marilyn McIntyre, a professor of theater and a professional actress, in Leavey Library Auditorium.
Karen Finley, a performance artist, will be the event's keynote speaker at 6:00 p.m. in Leavey Library.
Finley was one of four artists who had an NEA grant denied in 1990 after a raging debate led by U.S. Senator Jesse Helms, said Elson, a graduate student in theater with an emphasis on playwriting.
The day will conclude with a candlelight vigil and open microphone in E.F Hutton Park, starting at 8 p.m., "to remember all victims of domestic violence," Dosanjh said.
"Anyone who knows of someone who's been raped, sexually assaulted, can come by, know they'll be welcomed, they won't be harassed," she said.
"Take Back the Night" is a theme that takes place on college campuses nationwide, and started about the time of the Equal Rights Amendment movement, said Courtney Miller, another event coordinator and one of the executive directors of the Women's Student Assembly and a freshman majoring in cinema.
There was a law in the 1800s that did not allow women to go out at night, in fear of them becoming prostitutes and of crimes against them, Dosanjh said.
"Take Back the Night" became a way for women to rebel, they "wouldn't take this anymore, they wanted to do what they wanted," Dosanjh said.
The event started at USC about five years ago, when there were a number of acquaintance rapes on the Row, she said.
The first year was the biggest success, with 1,000 people attending the event, she said.
"It's been progressing every year," she said.
The event usually happens on campus during the month of March, which is Women's History Month, but USC coordinators decided to hold the event later so things like the spring break and Springfest would not draw attention from it, Dosanjh said.
It also gave more students a chance to be involved and the coordinators more time to bring Finley to campus, she said.
"`Take Back the Night' is an event that is prompted by a sense of outrage," said Elizabeth Davenport, director of the Office for Women's Issues. "It's not just a security-at-night issue."
The Office for Women's Issues is not formally associated with the event, but is supportive of the activities of the Women's Student Assembly, she said.
Miller said she hopes that all students will take part in the event. "It's open for all women, not just those who label themselves as feminists," she said.
"Plenty of men out there are equally concerned," Davenport said. "I expect supportive men (will be) present."
"We just want people to stop by, see what we're doing, become more educated," Dosanjh said.