Tau Kappa Epsilon, an interfraternity council member, is working to reinstate a program called “Take Back the Night,” a national campaign to bring awareness to crimes against women. The program has been going on for over 30 years, bringing awareness to nonconsensual sex and rape. “Take Back the Night” rallies include candlelight vigils, empowerment marches and survivor testimonials. This awareness program is designed to help women feel safe at night and not be afraid of getting raped or harmed.
The Women’s Resource and Services office held a program similar to “Take Back the Night” in previous years; however, TKE president, Greco Faria, along with TKE chaplin, Jordan Spencer are taking the lead in bringing this program back to Nicholls.
The organization first heard about “Take Back the Night” from its national headquarters. Rape statistics were read to the all-male group, and, according to Faria and Spencer, the numbers were appalling.
According to the Coalition Education About Sexual Endangerment, every minute, 1.3 women are raped in the United States, resulting in 1,872 women raped each day. Also, one out of every three American women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime.
After hearing those statistics, the chapter decided to push for the campaign to begin at Nicholls.
Faria, business senior from Nicaragua, said, “I like that we’re taking a different take on the subject having an all-male organization pushing for this program.”
The campaign will be called “TKE Helps Bring Back the Night,” and said they are hoping other student organizations follow suit and help take back the night.
Spencer, culinary arts senior from Jackson, said, “We want this program to become huge on campus, but it will take some time.”
According to the program’s Web site, www.takebackthenight.org, an outline of seven sections teaches organizations how to host the program.
TKE is currently in the planning stages, but said they hope with other organizations’ help, the program could quickly start.
The first step is to set up a table in the union, where ribbons will be handed out, and people who support the cause can sign a paper. Those names will be placed on a backdrop behind the table to show the support of the cause, and hopefully that will help the program to escalate, Faria said.
The table will be set up in the union between late October and early November.
By March, Women’s History Month, the organization hopes to have a full-out rally, where students would walk with candles in the Quad.
The duo said they hope to make “Take Back the Night” just as big or bigger than Relay for Life.
