“I got involved in the event by being a part of the Peer Prevention Educator student group, supported by the Department of Justice Campus Program called EMPOWER,” said Amber Peralta, a junior marketing major and member of EMPOWER. “I signed up thinking I would put my previous skills to use again by facilitating workshops like consent versus coercion, contraceptives and more. Little did I know I would be using my voice and knowledge for way more.”
This past Tuesday, St. Bonaventure University took part for the first time in Take Back the Night, an international event with the purpose of bringing to light sexual, relationship and domestic assault.
EMPOWER, along with BonaBrave, sponsored the event. Members of EMPOWER decided on October for the event because it is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, said Dr. Jennifer Karash-Eastman, project coordinator for the Department of Justice Campus Program, and Nichole Honeysett, resident director and assistant with the Department of Justice Campus Program.
The first 15 minutes of the program consisted of a march around campus, where students and faculty involved shouted chants such as “Take Back the Night, not on our campus” and “Hey, hey, ho, ho, sexual violence has got to go.”
This was then followed by a “Speak Out” portion, held in the Walsh Science Center amphitheater due to inclement weather.
Students during this time were invited to share their own experiences and stories regarding sexual, relationship and dating violence. During this part of the evening, Safety and Security, Counseling Center staff and St. Bonaventure’s victims’ advocate from Cattaraugus Community Action stood in the back of the room, available for anyone in attendance who needed support.
“I think the main goal of Take Back the Night was getting survivors aware of the change we are trying to do on our campus, allowing them a safe space to share their story, allowing their voice to be heard and allowing survivors to take back what was taken from them,” said Amber Peralta.
“Every campus has their own way of programming the event. EMPOWER researched the history, activities and approaches that have been successful in the past when planning the event,” said Eastman and Honeysett.
While many EMPOWER members attended, the turnout was greater than that of only the members, with about 70 people in attendance.
EMPOWER hopes to continue this event next October, said Eastman and Honeysett.
EMPOWER, which is a newly formed group on campus, has sponsored other events this semester, including The Clothesline Project at the Community Rally and a student moderated discussion at Café Damietta on “Situationships and Relationships.” The group also participated in the Staff and Faculty Health Fair, this past Monday’s Souper Monday and Family Weekend, at which they provided those in attendance with information on domestic and dating violence awareness.
The group also cohosted “In Their Shoes” with LASO, the Latin American Student Organization on campus, this past week. This interactive, empathy-building event focused on the difficult decisions that students have to make on campus after a sexual assault.
Students who are interested in EMPOWER are encouraged to email Honeysett at nhoneyse@sbu.edu. For more information on the program, one may visit https://www.sbu.edu/life-at-sbu/doj-campus-program-grant or contact Eastman at jeastman@sbu.edu.
“Sharing my story opened a lot of people’s eyes and mind while getting educated on the topic,” Peralta said. “I wish there were more people. However, you have to start small to get the bigger picture.”
By Natalie Forster, Editor-in-Chief
forstena17@bonaventure.edu
