Event in Oberlin encourages sexual violence survivors to reclaim the night

OBERLIN — As the sun began setting on Tappan Square on Sunday evening, students and members of the campus community gathered on the grass for an event aiming to allow sexual violence survivors to reclaim the night as a safe environment. The "Take Back the Night" event was described as a protest in three parts: a speak-out, march and celebration of resilience. Presented by the Survivors of Sexual Harm and Allies (SOSHA) organization, attendees could also access resources and support at different stations around the square. "We have a right to be here. We have the right to take up space," said Riley Hall, an advocate with the NORD Center who works on Oberlin College's campus and advises the student-run SOSHA organization. Similar events originated in England in 1877 and are now held around the world to symbolize survivors of sexual violence reclaiming the night as a safe environment, according to SOSHA's promotional materials. Numerous speakers encouraged and advocated for victims, while other groups gave creative arts performances. Jenna Frizzell, a member of the SOSHA leadership team, advised survivors that healing is not linear, and they are no less beautiful a person now compared to before they became a victim. Peter Woods, professor of German at Oberlin College, recalled an experience he had over the weekend when he came across a female student who had just been harassed by an unknown man in a passing vehicle. The man insisted he would not hurt her but continued asking unprovoked personal questions. "Fortunately, this guy drove away before anything worse happened, but it still left this student felling scared, feeling hurt, feeling worried," Woods said. Sexual harm is an issue Woods described as "rampant," and he said the campus community "can do better by our survivors and we have to do better." Hall described her experience working as an advocate for sexual assault survivors and struggling with how she may be able to change the system from inside to better support victims. Some steps anyone can take to address the problem of sexual violence, Hall said, include believing survivors and teaching the concept of consent from an early age. Contact Dylan Reynolds at (440) 329-7123 or dreynolds@chroniclet.com. Follow him on Twitter @drey1357.