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

[Joanne Sampson <>]

Hello Abdul,

A student organization, Students Acting for Gender Equality, at the University of Delaware has been hosting Take Back the Night for many years now, and to my knowledge, their are no stipulations or limitations placed on the attendees during the Speak Out. Survivors may tell their stories in their own words and in their own time, which is what the Speak Out is really about. Giving a voice back to survivors, in a safe, confidential, accepting environment. We always make sure we have audience support present in the form of our volunteer victim advocates, who are members of Sexual Offense Support. An announcement is made about the presence of SOS support and other campus resources, at the beginning of the speak out. If someone needs to talk to a member of SOS during or after the Speak Out, they have immediate access to support, or they can call the SOS hotline, or seek counseling at a later time.

Hope this helps. We need to support our survivors.

Jo

Joanne Sampson
Sexual Violence Prevention Specialist
Student Wellness & Health Promotion
University of Delaware

302-831-3457
https://www.facebook.com/MANatUD/
http://www.udel.edu/sape/

 

On Tue, Apr 12, 2016 at 10:04 AM, Staten, Abdul <> wrote:

Hi colleagues –

 

I’m looking to get some advice, and gather some evidence, regarding Take Back the Night. One of our counselors is urging the point that survivor testimonies should not be included in the event (or at least, testimonies should not go into detail about assault/abuse), because it could trigger those in the audience.

 

In fighting for survivors to share their experiences, and thus heal, I am unmoved by the request to withdraw survivor testimonies. Still, I wanted to get an idea of whether other institutions are facing a similar challenge.

 

Does your institution implement “Take Back the Night”? If so, do you include survivor testimonies? Or, are limitations placed on the kind of testimonies, so as to reduce triggering?

 

Thanks in advance, everyone. It’s difficult enough to fight against sexual violence, without also having to go against colleagues, too!

 

Abdul

 

Abdul Staten, MA

Training & Program Coordinator,

Women & Gender Resource Action Center (WGRAC)

Trinity College

300 Summit Street

2nd floor, Mather Hall

Hartford, CT  06106

Office: 860.297.4131

Email:

Click here to learn more about WGRAC! (Trinity’s Women & Gender Resources Action Center)