Women of the Night: Group Raises Awareness
Charelle Collins
Issue date: 11/28/05 Section: News
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Bride burnings. Rape. Female genital mutilation. Domestic violence.
These issues and many more took center stage at Take Back The Night, a program presented by Rutgers-Newark Alliance of Women Acting for Rights and Equality (A.W.A.R.E.).
A.W.A.R.E. president Janice Phillips, 21, a senior with a double major in women's studies and criminal justice, said that the significance of Take Back The Night has to do with empowering women.
"Night is traditionally what women are supposed to be afraid of," said Phillips, "Take Back the Night is about conquering fears."
Take Back the Night is an international annual rally that draws attention to sexism and violence against women and children.
Take Back the Night began in England and spread to the U.S. during the Women's Liberation movement in the 1970s.
This was Rutgers-Newark's first Take Back the Night.
Speaking to the dozens of students and faculty members were Connie Murray, a political science lecturer at R-N; Diane Mercurio of the Essex County Prosecutors Office and Carrie Moore from the Essex County Rape Care Center.
Professor Murray focused on domestic violence against women worldwide, Mercurio spoke about rape and violence from a legal standpoint, and Moore informed the crowd on where to go and who to talk to if you have been assaulted.
Following the speakers was a sketch by UNITY Theatre - a health advocate group on campus that puts on dramatic performances - a march around the block, and an open mic for students to share their personal experiences with violence.
Phillips herself witnessed the effects of violence in her own home when her father abused her mother. This experience has driven Phillips to become a part of A.W.A.R.E. and help spread the word about rape and other types of violence.
Another project associated with A.W.A.R.E. is the Clothesline Project where students were asked paint t-shirts describing their issues with violence.
"It's making public what people don't see...hanging out the dirty laundry," Phillips stated.
Phillips' advice for anyone who has been assaulted is to talk to someone or go to Psychological Services on campus.
"There are lots of people that want to help," said Phillips. Upcoming events for A.W.A.R.E. include scheduling the Vagina Monologues on campus for the spring semester and organizing a symposium on issues relating to women.
These issues and many more took center stage at Take Back The Night, a program presented by Rutgers-Newark Alliance of Women Acting for Rights and Equality (A.W.A.R.E.).
A.W.A.R.E. president Janice Phillips, 21, a senior with a double major in women's studies and criminal justice, said that the significance of Take Back The Night has to do with empowering women.
"Night is traditionally what women are supposed to be afraid of," said Phillips, "Take Back the Night is about conquering fears."
Take Back the Night is an international annual rally that draws attention to sexism and violence against women and children.
Take Back the Night began in England and spread to the U.S. during the Women's Liberation movement in the 1970s.
This was Rutgers-Newark's first Take Back the Night.
Speaking to the dozens of students and faculty members were Connie Murray, a political science lecturer at R-N; Diane Mercurio of the Essex County Prosecutors Office and Carrie Moore from the Essex County Rape Care Center.
Professor Murray focused on domestic violence against women worldwide, Mercurio spoke about rape and violence from a legal standpoint, and Moore informed the crowd on where to go and who to talk to if you have been assaulted.
Following the speakers was a sketch by UNITY Theatre - a health advocate group on campus that puts on dramatic performances - a march around the block, and an open mic for students to share their personal experiences with violence.
Phillips herself witnessed the effects of violence in her own home when her father abused her mother. This experience has driven Phillips to become a part of A.W.A.R.E. and help spread the word about rape and other types of violence.
Another project associated with A.W.A.R.E. is the Clothesline Project where students were asked paint t-shirts describing their issues with violence.
"It's making public what people don't see...hanging out the dirty laundry," Phillips stated.
Phillips' advice for anyone who has been assaulted is to talk to someone or go to Psychological Services on campus.
"There are lots of people that want to help," said Phillips. Upcoming events for A.W.A.R.E. include scheduling the Vagina Monologues on campus for the spring semester and organizing a symposium on issues relating to women.