This year’s Take Back the Night Vigil, which has been virtual for the past two years due to the pandemic, is returning as an in-person event at 7 p.m. on April 5 in the Chapel of Saint Joseph.
Take Back the Night is a global organization that works to combat sexual violence, and the vigils create a safe space for survivors to share their stories and heal from their experiences.
The vigil on April 5 will include faculty and student speakers, a keynote address, a performance by University Singers and an open forum for survivors of sexual violence to speak about their expereinces.
“[Sexual violence] is definitely not an easy subject to talk about,” said Juliana Magriples ’22, co-president of St. Joe’s Rape Education Prevention Program (R.E.P.P.). “It’s definitely very heavy and emotionally charged, but I think that is one of the reasons why it’s so important to be there, whether you’re going as someone who wants to share your story or someone who wants to provide support.”
Sexual assault is common on college campuses, with 1 in 5 women and 1 and 7 men becoming victims of sexual violence, said Raquel Kennedy Bergen, Ph.D., professor of sociology and R.E.P.P. faculty moderator, who studies intimate partner sexual violence.
“They are really powerful numbers, but you attach faces to those numbers, so when you hear people’s stories you realize it’s nothing the survivor caused, and that you didn’t deserve to have this happen,” Bergen said.
While Bergen has been running the event for about 20 years, she said this year’s return to being in-person is all the more important. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine reported in April 2020 that within a month of quarantines, domestic violence cases increased by 25 to 33 percent globally.
“I think there is something really special about being able to have [the vigil] in person and to have that space physically, especially after isolation wherein a lot of cases, it made their situations of abuse even more difficult and challenging to navigate,” Magriples said.
Gabrielle Southworth ’18, who served as president of R.E.P.P. during her time at St. Joe’s, will be the keynote speaker at the vigil.
Southworth will present on sexual violence and dating apps, which she experienced during her time at St. Joe’s. She said she will talk about the national campaign, Take Back the Swipe, which is an initiative aimed at spreading awareness regarding dating app violence.
“It’s a conversation dedicated to really shatter the silence around sexual violence on dating apps, and for survivors to have the chance to reclaim dating apps, know it’s not their fault and know that they’re not alone,” Southword said.
Magriples believes this vigil will be beneficial for all of those who attend, especially since this may be the first time survivors tell their story.
“To have a really positive and supportive space and community there for them can be a really integral part of the healing process for a lot of survivors,” Magriples said. “So I would say in that way, it’s really special to either be an individual who is sharing your story, or to be there as someone to provide support for other survivors.”
