“In Texas, 1 in 5 women and 1 in 20 men are raped over their lifetime and things must change,” UH Women’s Resource Center Director Beverly McPhail said at the start of “Take Back the Night.” | Jasmine Umenyi/The Daily Cougar
The Women’s Resource Center hosted its second annual “Take Back the Night” event on Wednesday evening to bring awareness to the campus about the safety of women walking on campus at night.
The Wellness and Recreation Center, Cougar Peer Educators, Counseling and Psychological Services, Department of Public Safety and the Women’s Resource Center teamed up to co-sponser and take part in a march in order to raise awareness to the campus about sexual assault.
“Women are the majority on college campuses across the nation and yet often they are afraid to walk across campus at night to go to the library. Things must change,” said Beverly McPhail, director of the Women’s Resource Center, during her introductory speech for the “Take Back the Night” march.
“In Texas, 1 in 5 women and 1 in 20 men are raped over their lifetime and things must change,” McPhail said.
Out of about 23 people who came to participate in the march, two of them were males.
“This march is important to raise awareness about women’s safety at night. We need to look out for our women folk and our better halves,” biology and French junior Dustin Phipps said.
Dr. Kimberly James, assistant director and outreach director of CAPS, spoke about how there is help available on campus for those who have been psychologically challenged due to the assault.
“Unfortunately, we do see a lot of students that are struggling with this issue of assault,” James said. “I want to make sure that you realize that there are counselors, therapists and psychologists here working at CAPS who are here to help.”
The march took place through the hot spots on campus starting at the Student Services Center, to the M.D. Anderson Memorial Library and through the University Center and the C.T. Bauer College of Business.
“I am excited to gain more information about where it is safe to walk on campus and how to protect myself at night,” transfer student Ana Atilano said. “That’s one of my worries.”
For more information on the event or on how to navigate safely throughout the campus, contact the Women’s Resource Center at (832) 842-6191 or by visiting www.uh.edu/wrc. The Women’s Resource Center is located on the second floor of the UC.
