Last April, Jenny Aszman stood by the University arch with 100 other students and community members chanting powerful statements and persistently waving signs.

The group spoke and moved in unison. For those moments at the arch, one thought reigned over the protesters’ minds – Take Back the Night.

Some people believe Take Back the Night started on the streets of London, England in 1877 where women marched in protest of violence that kept them indoors after nightfall. Others contest that the march was born in 1976 through Belgian women who walked through the streets with candles in hand and sexual violence as their common stigma.

Whatever the case may be, the march has continued since its inception in various forms and countries throughout the world.

“TBTN is a rally to promote awareness and inspire everyone to join the movement to stop sexual violence,” Tiago Moura, PR representative for the Women’s Studies Student Organization (WSSO), said.

Throughout the globe, rallies generally take place in April, as it is Sexual Awareness Month.

The Athens chapter of the National Organization of Women brought TBTN to the University campus.

“Although the date of the first Athens march is unknown, we do know that WSSO took over after the dissolution of that group around 2001,” Joanna Randazzo, co-facilitator for WSSO, said.

Since 2001, WSSO along with The Cottage, the University’s local sexual assault center, has organized awareness events, fundraising and an annual march.

Throughout the week, TBTN events included Tuesday’s Dance Back the Night at Ciné and a discussion on sex trafficking on Wednesday led by Cheryl Deluca-Johnson, executive director of Street GRACE. The culmination of these events will take place today.

Today’s TBTN rally opens with The Clothesline Project, an organization that encourages sexual assault survivors to design their own awareness T-shirts.

Allison Weiss will perform at 12 p.m., followed by a self-defense demonstration. Free dinner will be available from 4-6:30 p.m. along with performances by Incatepec, Hope for Agoldensummer, and Bellah Sparxxx.

Finally, speakers from various agencies and community members will mentally prepare participants for the march to the arch.

“Each speaker will take the stage and share a story or a message about how sexual or domestic violence has touched their lives. We will have survivors from both the student body and community, as well as nonviolence activists and professors,” Aszman said.

With the moving words of personal sexual assault stories in mind, participants will march across campus declaring women’s right to live without fear and reclaiming the dignity of abuse victims.

Once they reach the arch, everyone will take part in a multi-faith candlelit vigil where survivors are encouraged to step forward and share testimonies.

As Aszman marches for her second time she has aspirations for this year’s participants.

“I hope that students feel empowered by TBTN and know that sexual violence is a community issue. All human beings have the right to live a life free from violence, and the right to be heard if something happens to them,” she said.

“I hope that students and community members feel connected after the rally, march and vigil, and that it will be a positive step in their path towards healing from sexual or domestic abuse and violence.”