Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

[Connie J Kirkland <>]

We have sponsored Take Back the Night at George Mason University in Fairfax, 
Virginia for the past 18 years.  We have opted not to do an open mic for the 
reasons you have mentioned.  Instead, the Women's Center and my office - 
Sexual Assault Services -- ask victims/survivors who we know and who we know 
have gone through the healing process to a point to be able to speak in front 
of a crowd without retraumatizing themselves or others. We ask that they give 
us an outline and have a small discussion with me before the night -- to be 
sure they are focused and to help them recognize the difficulties they might 
have when they speak.  So far, each night has been very powerful and very 
empowering for those in attendance.

Connie Kirkland
Director, Sexual Assault Services
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
703-993-4364
----- Original Message -----
From: 

Date: Thursday, October 26, 2006 12:05 pm
Subject: SAPC Digest, Vol 613, Issue 1

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> Today's Topics:
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>   1. Take Back the Night 
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> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 13:03:33 -0400
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> Subject: Take Back the Night
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> I am the director of a small women's center at a four-year 
> private liberal arts college in central Pennsylvania. We 
> have been sponsoring a Take Back the Night program for 14 
> years, and it is a very popular event on campus. Our 
> counseling and health services staff members have recently 
> expressed concern, however, about the testimonials portion 
> of  the program. They feel it is too depressing and may 
> even be harmful to sexual assault and abuse victims who 
> have not disclosed their experiences before or who are not 
> well into the healing process.
> 
> I would appreciate getting information on how other 
> schools handle the testimonials or open-mic portion of 
> TBTN. We currently ask students to check in at a table 
> staffed by counselors before they speak, and our 
> counseling services people also have open hours the week 
> prior to the event to talk with students who are 
> considering speaking(very few student take advantage of 
> this opportunity, however). Is there something else you do 
> at your school that you have found helpful in making the 
> testimonials portion of the program empowering for both 
> speakers and the audience?
> 
> Thanks for any advice you can offer.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Judy Pehrson
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Judy Pehrson
> Director
> The Women's Center
> Franklin & Marshall College
> P.O. Box 3003
> Lancaster, PA 17604-3003
> 717-291-3956
> 
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> End of SAPC Digest, Vol 613, Issue 1
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