Nor’easters unite to ‘Take Back the Night,’ end interpersonal violence

The statistics are staggering: 1 in 3 women worldwide experience some form of sexual violence or intimate partner abuse in their lifetime. So do 1 in 6 men, and members of the LGBTQ+ community are more likely to experience these crimes.

In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, dozens of students and faculty from the University of New England marched against sexual violence on Wednesday, April 17, standing in solidarity with survivors to “Take Back the Night” as part of a global movement to raise awareness about these difficult topics.

Take Back The Night is the oldest worldwide movement to stand against sexual violence, with origins tracing back to several demonstrations in the U.S. in San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Tampa, Florida — as well as a Tribunal Council in Belgium — in the 1970s. The organization’s global mission is to end sexual violence in all its forms and support survivors in their healing journeys.

Students, faculty, and professional staff from UNE gathered in the Danielle N. Ripich Commons on Wednesday for an evening of camaraderie and peaceful reflection. Lawn games were played, signs were drawn, and chants were shouted speaking out against interpersonal violence, led by Aiden Fisher (B.S.W., ’25), a work-study student with the Office of Title IX and Civil Rights Compliance, and Title IX office interns Victoria Robichaud ’24 and Cooper Robinson ’25.

The office hosted the event in partnership with several campus and external organizations, including Sexual Assault Services of Southern Maine and Caring Unlimited. Support for the event was also provided by members of a social work class who helped plan the event and coordinate outreach efforts. 

“Today, we march — we stand together, refusing to be silent about sexual violence,” Fisher said to the crowd. “We chant to say we should be safe, live without fear of violence, and support each other. We walk to celebrate the steps we are taking to heal and support those who are healing. … We unite for our collective strength.”

Additional speakers included experts in the field of sexual assault response and prevention, as well as mental health advocacy and trauma-informed care. They included Amanda Klein, J.D., Title IX investigation and prevention specialist; Deanna Barry, M.S.W. ’17, area coordinator for East and West residence halls; and Cyndi Amato, M.S.W., associate clinical professor and coordinator of UNE’s Bachelor of Science in Social Work degree program. 

“Throughout my career … I have seen progress in ways I never thought possible," said Amato, noting that responding to and preventing sexual violence has been a lifelong pursuit. "(But) even with this progress, I recognize the need to mentor a new generation to carry forward successes and build on them, as well as be vigilant that we don’t go back.”

Amato outlined several goals to ensure that progress, including ample resources allocated to services that promote justice for survivors, widely accessible and comprehensive prevention programming, and policy changes at the local, state, and federal levels that lead to a more safe and equitable society.

“As we march tonight, I hope all of us can keep these goals in mind and, in doing so, commit to contributing to efforts to end sexual violence,” she said.

Students Victoria Robichaud, Cooper Robinson, and Aiden Fisher lead the Take Back the Night March on April 17, 2024. Dozens from the UNE Community joined them in vowing to end sexual and domestic violence.

As remarks concluded, the crowd stepped off, weaving through campus holding candles and marching to chants of “Shatter the Silence; Stop the Violence,” and “Nor’easters Unite; We Take Back The Night,” at once remembering those who have lost their lives to sexual violence and vowing to take visible, vocal — and literal — steps to end abuse for good.

“To effectively address and prevent sexual violence, it is imperative that we work together to set and reinforce community standards that unequivocally reject sexual violence in all forms,” Klein said. “Whether it is receiving a Green Dot certification, volunteering with a local agency, or simply recognizing positive behaviors, we can work together to create change within our community. We don't have to do everything; we just need to do something.”

Additional sponsors for the event included: UNE Athletics; the Office of Commuter and Residential Life; Campus Recreation and Wellness; the Office of Student Engagement; the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Residential Student Life Association; UNE Habitat for Humanity; Student Nursing Association; UNE EMS; UNE Military Acknowledgement; Undergraduate Admissions; the Activities Programming Board; PSI CHI Psychology Honors Society; the Office of Safety and Security; and the UNE Arts, Gardening, and Psychology clubs.