“Every 73 seconds in the United States someone is sexually assaulted. If that doesn’t tell you how serious of a problem it is in the United States, I don’t know what else can,” said Amanda Jo Hobson, ISU interim dean of students.
To raise awareness about this serious issue, ISU held a Take Back the Night event where students and staff could find gender violence resources and hear the stories of others.
“It’s a symbol of going out at night, that idea that we are taking back ownership of our bodies, our rights,” Hobson said.
According to statistics from the Take Back the Night Foundation, one in three women worldwide experience some form of sexual violence but those in attendance on Wednesday say anyone can be impacted the issue.
“It’s everyone’s problem and not just a woman’s problem. The big thing that we say here is it’s gender based violence and not woman’s based violence,” said Aryn Suiter, director of programming for Spectrum.
By providing resources and educating other’s on how gender violence impacts women and men across the world, organizers hopes it leads to a future where sexual and domestic violence are no longer present.
“We are in control of our future, what is socially allowed, what’s socially accepted, and we hope to say ‘This is how it’s going be. This is how we are setting the precedent,” said Makaela Denny, ISU senior.
After Wednesday’s march organizers held a name burning ceremony.
Hobson says the ceremony is designed for people to let go of whatever may be holding them back.
Donations were also collected during the event which will be donated to CODA.
