Cougar Peer Educators is commemorating April as the Sexual Assault Awareness Month by promoting a safe and secure campus for the entire UH community.
"We’re here to promote a place that is free of sexual assault and sexual violence," health promotion senior Sabrina Stanley said. "This is my second year doing (the march), and we’re hoping for a good turnout. Last year, we saw nearly 100 marchers."
Over 50 participants joined at the fourth annual Take Back the Night March on Thursday, which included students, faculty and even two small children, who joined the trek across campus.
Led by a trio of students carrying a banner that read "Take Back the Night", the march began at the University Center with participants wearing black "Take Back the Night" T-shirts.
"A lot of people don’t realize what society’s really like," marketing senior John Sanchez said. "They’re closed off to reality, and we’re walking to build awareness. Plus, I have two sisters, so anything that has to do with (stopping) sexual assault, I support."
The march made a path from the UC to the Moody Towers, where more students joined the procession. From there, marchers walked in a long line through the Quadrangle and past the fountain in front of Ezekiel Cullen Building before ending at the Cullen Performance Hall.
"We are asserting our right to walk around campus without being threatened physically," Outreach Counselor Gaylyn Maurer said.
Participants then formed a large circle to observe a moment of silence for victims of sexual assault and aggression.
The event was held in conjunction with NO!, a rape documentary shown by the Women’s Resource Center at the Cullen Performance Hall following the march.
The documentary, written by African-American activist and independent filmmaker Aishah Shahidah Simmons, showed the adverse effects of sexual violence and rape in the black community, said Beverly McPhail, director of the Women’s Resource Center.
"Overall, I think it was a good turnout. Last year, the marchers walked with candles, but there are a lot more men here this year," UH police officer Y. Edmund said.
Edmund, who accompanied the march on bicycle, also teaches the Rape Aggression Defense class, sponsored by UHPD. The program, run by Lt. Derrick McClinton, teaches female participants how to defend themselves in confrontations.
Sessions are free of charge at the UHPD and can include as many as 15 women from the UH community. For more information on signing up for the RAD program, contact McClinton at [email protected].
