Come 'Take Back the Night'

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. The Fourth Annual Northwest Arkansas “Take Back the Night“ march will be held Friday, April 28. The Pat Walker Health Center RESPECT group (Rape Education Services by Peers Encouraging Conscious Thought), a program of the STAR central office, invites the community to attend and speak-out against violence and sexual abuse.

The theme of the event is the assertion that all human beings have the right to be free from sexual violence, the right to be heard and the right to reclaim those rights if they are violated.  Thousands of “Take Back the Night” marches and rallies have taken place worldwide. New to the event this year is the joining of many groups across Northwest Arkansas who will participate in the first “Dress Down to Raise Awareness Day” and a sister march to be held in Camden, Ark..

“Violence is a community issue,” said Mary A. Wyandt-Hiebert, director of STAR Central, Pat Walker Health Center. “’Take Back the Night’ is designed to create awareness, to empower individuals and to inspire action that will bring an end to [sexual] violence.”

• 6:30 p.m. — Begin gathering at the Fayetteville Square, Arvest Plaza

• 7 p.m. - Opening remarks, including a proclamation read by Mayor Dan Coody

• 7:15 p.m. - March from the Fayetteville Square to the Arkansas Union Courtyard by way of East Street, Dickson Street and across the UA campus.

• 8 p.m. - Closing activities at the Arkansas Union Courtyard.

Activities at the Arkansas Union include the Campus Clothesline Project with more than 1,000 shirts on display, a speak-out, a candlelight vigil and more.

Commemorative “glow-in-the-dark“ t-shirts are available ($10 per shirt/$11 for sizes 2XL/3XL) available at the Pat Walker Health Center and at the event while supplies last. Proceeds benefit campus rape awareness and prevention education.

This year, several UA organizations and local business have joined the effort to raise awareness of violence and will wear “Take Back the Night” t-shirts and jeans to work on Friday, April 28 as part of the first “Dress Down to Raise Awareness Day”. Participating groups include:

• Pat Walker Health Center

• Arkansas Union

• UA Center for Students with Disabilities

• University Housing

• UA Career Development Center

• University of Arkansas Libraries

• Coldwell Banker-Faucette, Fayetteville office

• The Breast Center of Northwest Arkansas

Joining the efforts of Northwest Arkansas, the Disabled American Veterans Ladies Auxiliary of Camden, Ark. will also hold a “Take Back the Night” March on April 28. Auxiliary member, Gracie Hill is leading the organization of this sister march. Mayor Chris Claybaker will read a proclamation at the march as citizens of Camden join the effort of raising awareness and speaking out against violence against women. “It is hoped that this is the start of a new era in which other cities throughout Arkansas will join the University with future marches,” Wyandt-Hiebert said.