Peek out your dorm window between the hours of 7pm and 10pm on March 29th, and you will see a procession of students walking around campus with lit candles, in a fashion similar to that of the Stations of the Cross.
Take Back the Night, organized and led by members and associates of Project Peg, is an upcoming vigil walk in remembrance of those who have been affected by domestic violence. Participants will walk around campus with lit candles, stop at key places such as the chapel, and perform student- or professionally-written monologues. The walk will act as a way to educate Fairfield University students about the issues of domestic violence.
Gabrielle Arens ’12 explained the idea behind Take Back the Night. “We want to spread awareness about domestic violence against women and to get people thinking. We want to shock and frighten people while simultaneously invoking activism and fighting ignorance: the goal is to make sure domestic violence is not an ignored, back of the burner subject.”
Take Back the Night is just one of the many activities on campus that have caused Fairfield to name this ‘The Year of Activism.’ It follows The Dirty Laundry demonstration of last week and the upcoming play “A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant, A Prayer”: all demonstrations bring to light contemporary issues that young adults of today’s society must deal with.
Instead of protesting, Take Back the Night is meant to serve as a wake-up call to the students of Fairfield University. Domestic violence is an issue that may hit close to home for some, and the walk is a way of showing support for the survivors and victims.
“Most people pick causes that are far from home,” Arens continues.“Well, here’s a message: this one is right here, right where you live. Your neighbor, your cousin, your mother. There are untold secrets, there are things unsaid and although Fairfield U doesn’t have much involvement or activism on this subject–this is one way to start it. How can you deny helping first what is around surrounding your imminent surroundings?”
Those organizing Take Back the Night are currently working with Public Safety to provide a safe space towards the end of the walk as a way to discuss reactions and support each other.
Alicia Bissonette ’12, one of the leaders for Take Back the Night, hopes that the walk will be a positive experience. The walk, above all, is meant to show that there are people who care about this issue.
“I want this to be a celebratory thing,” says leader Alicia Bissonette ’12. “It’s more than just the victims. It’s also about the survivors. We want to point out that people have gone through this and survived. It’s a wonderful, beautiful thing.”
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