While statistics show that 25 percent of women are sexually assaulted by the time they graduate from college, less than two dozen women came to support a protest against sexual violence last night on College Green.
Nine people were assembled when the annual Take Back the Night event began, and as the evening progressed, approximately 20 people trickled in -- a disappointing turnout for College junior Suzanne Weinstock.
A member of Students Together Against Acquaintance Rape -- one of the three major groups sponsoring the event -- Weinstock cited decreased membership in STAAR paired with a lack of activism on the part of sororities as the main reasons behind the lack of student attendance.
Yet despite the low turnout, Weinstock and the other organizers remained positive that the event's effects would still be felt.
"A small group of dedicated people truly can change the world," College senior and event organizer Swati Guild said.
She emphasized that this was an opportunity for people to "join together in solidarity [and] community."
Guild believes Take Back the Night is an effective way to educate students about all forms of sexual violence, to empower women and -- most importantly -- to create dialogue in an area where victims often remain silent.
Penn Women's Center Director Elena Di Lapi, Women's Health Coordinator Deborah Mathis and Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center Program Coordinator Ninah Harris each spoke to begin the evening.
After the speeches, rally attendees marched up Locust Walk.
Although the group was small, the enthusiastic women -- and one man -- shouted chants, turning heads and even picking up a few new participants along the way.
Returning to College Green, the event became more personal. The microphone opened up, and audience members came forward to share their own stories.
Some speakers were soft-spoken and avoided the microphone and some were louder and angrier, yet each person built upon speaker Reverend Beverly Dale's message that "there is healing after pain."
Originating in England in 1977, Take Back the Night came to the United States for the first time in 1978 and has become particularly popular on college campuses nationwide.
Eighty percent of sexual assaults are committed by acquaintances of victims, yet the crime is incredibly inadequately addressed and underreported. Confusion surrounding what constitutes rape, having a relationship with the assailant and the societal position of women as a whole exacerbate the issue.
Organizers will continue to spread awareness of the issue with a Lifetime movie and panel on sexual violence tonight at 7 p.m. in Logan Hall room G17.
Guild believes that progress will be made through events like Take Back the Night as well as continued focus on social barriers faced by women.
