Marching to end violence
Tomorrow evening from 6 to 8 at the Downtown Mall, University students, along with fellow Charlottesville and Albemarle County residents, will attempt to reclaim every woman's right to be free from violence.
The annual event, known as Take Back the Night and sponsored by the National Organization for Women, will begin with a rally on the Mall, featuring keynote speaker Patricia Ireland, president of NOW.
Following the speech, the march will head down Main Street and continue around the Mad Bowl before it ends at the Rotunda, where female survivors of violent acts will speak out and hold a candlelight vigil.
"I think this event is an amazing way to raise awareness so that we can all stop the violence against women," said third-year College student Sara Dolan, Inter-Sorority Council women's concerns chair. "In general, these types of programs are a great way to support women who have gone through things that are unacceptable, but may not have had the courage to say something previously."
According to Dolan, last year's event saw a record number of supporters, and this year's is expected to boast an even larger turnout.
"The amazing support that we have received at this event in the past will hopefully make even more people notice what a worthwhile cause this is," Dolan said. "Support is definitely a key to helping women who have been silent about the violence against them."
In order to increase University involvement at this year's event, the ISC has taken measures to arrange for buses to transport students and residents from the Chapel to the Downtown Mall from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
In addition, each University sorority has taken on the role of publicist, hanging posters in its house as well as in neighboring fraternity houses. Also, both fraternities and sororities will place luminaries outside of their houses tomorrow evening.
"I think it is important for the Greek system to show the larger University community support in the political movements and social activism at the school," said third-year College student Sarah Lepere, women's concerns chair for Kappa Delta sorority. "As women we want to show solidarity, and as a sorority, we are going to have a really strong turnout to support the movement."
- Daniel Stern
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