ISU Students march around Normal to Take Back the Night

NORMAL, Ill. – A group of Illinois State University students marched around Normal Thursday night holding signs demanding a safer community, specifically for women at night. 

One of the signs read “Silence is Violence.”  

So they got loud.

ISU’s Registered Student Organization Students Ending Rape Culture held their annual Take Back the Night event with support from other ISU and community affiliates such as YWCA Stepping Stones, The Queer Coalition and even Representative Sharon Chung was there advocating for women’s rights. 

SERC Co-president Gabby Taylor has been involved with the organization for a few years now. She explained the importance of the event, and what she hopes the participants gain from the experience. 

“If I could sum it up in one word, it would just be empowering,” Taylor said. “It’s so nice to see so many organizations and students just come together and take back the night.” 

“Silence is Violence” was not the only sign held by participants of the march. A plethora of different statements were written, all carrying a special meaning to the author. 

“Does my no make you uncomfortable?” read SERC member Charlotte Chilton’s sign. “I chose that because it’s actually a line from a poem I wrote about having a hard time saying ‘no’ because I feel like I’m going to make somebody uncomfortable. And it’s just outrageous things that men have said to me when they’re making me uncomfortable. If you’re a people pleaser and a woman, it gets you taken advantage of.” 

“My sign says ‘If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.’” SERC member Alex Longoria said. “I wrote this mainly because I think people have ignored this for so long, even though it’s right in your face and I think this is a time for us to stand and people need to start looking at us.”  

“No is a full sentence,” read SERC member Joslyn Leonhardt’s sign. “I feel people don’t understand that no means no and sometimes it needs to be stated.” 

“My sign says ‘Hands off my body,’ and I also wrote on the margins and stuff [some] little things that I feel are really important regarding the topic like ‘consent doesn’t come after you do,’ and ‘just because I didn’t say it doesn’t mean I wanted it,’ SERC member Gianna Guzman said. “ I wrote these things because personally I’m a sexual assault survivor, and I feel like sometimes our silence is taken for granted… I feel like it’s really important for women to unite and just stand for the cause. Hands off my body because I have a right and no means no.” 

Following the march was a vigil, where participants were able to share their stories in a safe and supportive space.  The event concluded with a moment of silence held in honor of survivors of sexual assault.  

“What I hope that they gain is just the support and knowledge that you are not alone,” Taylor said. “No matter where you’re from or who you are, you are not alone in your experience.”  

YWCA has a 24-hour hotline for sexual violence that can be reached at 309-556-7000