Take Back The Night March

NORMAL, Ill. – On October 25^th a march was held at Illinois State University to show support and fight for a diverse and safe community on campus.

The Take Back the Night March started at 7 p.m. on the quad, when protestors as well as members of FLAME and SERC met up. FLAME is the Feminist Led Activist Movement to Empower, and SERC is Students Ending Rape Culture. Lorelai Starkey, President of SERC, spoke on what went into the curation of the march.

“We made a bunch of posters and discussed what we wanted expressed and the point of the march, then walked through the quad, up through university street, and into uptown chanting about we shouldn’t have our rights taken away and how we should own the night and not be afraid,” said Starkey. “Then after the march we met back up outside and had a vigil where we had a moment of silence.”

After frustrations have been expressed from multiple LGBTQ and Women’s advocacy groups on campus, Starkey spoke on the purpose of the march.

“We just want that acceptance not just from students but from our faculty,” said Starkey.

Starkey says that event was held for women to feel comfortable walking at night, as well as to find acceptance for minority groups on campus. The march was supported by students at Illinois State, both in and out of the march.

“We had a lot of people show up, more than we anticipated, I was so glad to see such a big turnout,” said Starkey.

 When asked about the future of the event, and future goals for both the march and SERC.

“Take back the night is going to be an annual thing,” said Starkey. “It is originally a flame activity and they have asked SERC to cosponsor. My hope for the future is that we become a more accepting and diverse community, and we can accept what we identify as and not feel afraid to walk on campus for fear of being targeted for our identities.”