LETTERS/YOUR VIEW: Taking back misconceptions

To the Editor: This year, men were not barred from participating in the march. It is a fact that women are more likely to be victimized while walking at night simply because of their gender. The reason why this is a women's march is to make a political and symbolic statement about women reclaiming the right to walk at night without fear of being victimized. Men are not "barred" from the march but we feel that the emphasis of the march should focus on the safety of women. There is no mandate against men marching. However, both women and men must understand that this march is political in nature and specifically about women's empowerment. It does not exclude, rather it attempts to make a symbolic statement against victimization of women. I also must clear up some erroneous ideas about sexual violence. I have been a peer health educator, advocate/activist for victim/survivors and rape crisis counselor both in Students Together Against Acquaintance Rape and Women Organized Against Rape. The fact is that women are not always victims and men are not always perpetrators. I think we fail to realize and recognize that women can and often do rape and sexually assault not just men but other women, too. Anyone can be a perpetrator regardless of age, gender, race, religion or sexual orientation and anyone can be a victim. We need to stop seeing men as the sole perpetrators of sexual violence. We need to stop talking about helping female victim/survivors and start talking about helping all victim/survivors. All survivors deserve to be treated with respect and deserve to receive help. Male survivors are still being silenced and blamed for their own victimization. Sexual violence is a sensitive issue. This night may not be about alcohol but it should be just as important. Sapana Donde College '99 A lack of respect To the Editor: Last Wednesday night, almost 150 women and men gathered on College Green for the sixth annual Take Back the Night march and survivor speakout. Take Back the Night is an event that allows to women to feel comfortable and safe in their bodies. The act of marching and raising our voices chanting slogans such as "Yes Means Fuck Me, No Means Fuck Off" is an assertion of our right, as women and human beings, to control our own bodies. To me and many others on this campus, this seems to be a very simple, fundamental and indispensable right. However, after three years on this campus, I have come to expect a certain level of apathy, indifference or resistance to feminist activism. Once again, the act of women raising their voices proved to be too threatening for a large portion of this campus. From the actions of certain members of this campus, it becomes evident that a rape-free campus, safe for women, is not a universal goal of the Penn community. While we were marching, the women's chant "What do we want? No Fear. When do we want it? Now!" was countered with loud male voices chanting for "More Beer!" from the Quadrangle windows. Furthermore, as the group marched through Hamilton Village, some members were hit with eggs thrown from the windows of the high rises. While these are relatively small examples, these acts represent a much larger problem -- the University's resistance to hearing women's voices. These are very disturbing and embarrassing reactions from some members of the Penn community. We should all think about what these acts imply. Can we, as a campus, truly take a stand against rape and sexual assault? Can we work together, hearing the voices of women, of all survivors, to prevent sexual assault and rape from hurting one more individual? This campus does have the will to organize. If over 1,000 students can rally with less than a day's notice against a restrictive alcohol policy, we can certainly organize around the important issue of women's safety. Hema Sarangapani Women's Alliance Chairperson College '00 Selective apathy To the Editor: I am appalled that students in attendance at last Wednesday night's Take Back the Night rally were far fewer than in past years. What distresses me the most is that during my time at Penn I never witnessed a greater mobilization of students than what I've read about in the coverage of the alcohol policy rallies. It is an embarrassment that so many Penn students are willing to join together under the gloss of the infringement of rights and are not willing to show their support for an event that raises the awareness of the indecencies and abuses many Penn students face on a daily basis. So as Fling rapidly approaches and the stores of alcohol along with the anxiety surrounding its procurement grow, please take a moment to reflect on the importance of what you're fighting for and where you have elected to focus your time and energy. Roberta Harting College '98 A poor response To the Editor: I decided to participate in the Take Back the Night march on April 7, 1999. The low turnout was disappointing. The comments made from residents of the Quad were even more disturbing. It bothered me but it wasn't necessarily a big deal. I guess people are just more interested in trying to show off than to actually harbor ill intent. However, passing by the high rises, things were a bit more disturbing. People were actually throwing things at the marchers, not just words, but objects. I was hit by one, cut and had to leave the rally bleeding. These people, of course, hid like cowards. If you disagree with my beliefs there are much better ways to discuss this than resorting to violence and total disrespect. This is supposed to be an Ivy League university where we can talk about issues intelligently and not resort to these sort of "statements." Colleen Dechon Wharton '99 Wrong on rules To the Editor: The Tuesday, April 6 edition of The Daily Pennsylvanian featured both a column and an editorial about Take Back the Night that were erroneous, misleading and damaging to the event ("Turning out to take back the night," "A show of unity, sisterhood"). The DP made no attempt to correct its errors before the event. In Thursday's article ("Women march to 'take back the night'," DP, 4/8/99) the DP claimed that organizers originally "barred men" from marching and then you claim to not know why there was such a low turn-out. Hmm? could it be because of your lies? Could it be because you did not confirm anything with the organizers of the event about the actual meaning behind the march or the actual "rules?" Could it be because you saw the words "Women's March" and assumed to know everything? Or could it be because you wanted to stir up controversy where none existed? Female and male organizers of the event were insulted by your blatant disregard and disrespect of the truth. What kind of a newspaper are you? When are you going to take responsibility for ruining what should have been an important event? How dare you limit the power of victim/survivors' words and their right to heal by chasing would-be supporters away? You disgust me with your ignorance and insensitivity. I thought a newspaper was only interested in the truth. Whatever happened to checking the sources? It's not like you didn't know who to contact considering we paid $400 to run an ad. The least you should do is refund the money considering you ruined the event. Besides who the hell wants to put an ad about sexual violence in a "gag issue"? Real funny. Sapana Donde STAAR & WOAR College '99 Craig Abbs WOAR & NOW Admin. Asst., Harrison House