Take Back The Night

So... today was long. Woke up late, pilates once more kicked my ass via teaser one (I always end up toppling over at the end), psych of women dragged on forever and a day, studied, met with my mentor group, took a test, worked on my project, worked on my other project (got paint on my arms), and then went to Take Back The Night. Project REV was hosting it, and it was pretty much a movement to do exactly what it sounds like in the name, taking back the night. They gave us water bottles and t-shirts (that they had ulterior motives for) and we listened to a band that sucked except for the lead guitarist and seriously needed a new songwriter, and then sat for the speeches. We got the info again for student health services, the counseling center, and then the information for groups for helping women out of domestic violence situation, supporting them after sexual assault and with all the legalities involved in abuse, assault, and stalking. There were a few pretty good speeches, the first one started with the narrative of getting out of your car at night, and being pretty damned scared, and having to all but run to your front door, because we are honestly afraid of the night. People are afraid of what comes in the night. And we shouldn't have to be. That's what the march was about. We went around the Hubbard oval and marched and chanted for taking back the night, and ending violence. (like yes means yes/no means no/whatever we wear/wherever we go and stop the silence/stop the hate/no more violence/no more rape)It was pretty inspiring...

and tiring. I have no voice and everything hurts, turns out campus is big, and my roommate and I snuck away after the march. I truly feel for the people who are still down there. Long day, long day, long day.

Love,

Alice

PS: Ulterior motive for the water bottle was to be able to chant longer without getting a sore throat, ulterior motive for shirt is that it's teal and teal is the color for sexual assault awareness month, which, conveniently, is April.