By
Sandra Kelly
Take Back the Night, the international rally
and march to unite against violence on women, children and
families will be held at Buffalo State College.
The event will begin at 6:30 on April 14 in
the Houston
Gym at the college. There is no charge to attend and
everyone is welcome.
Nicole Bevacqua, health educator for student
affairs and coordinator for Take Back the Night, said there
have been so many Buffalo State students who attend the
rally that the coordinators thought it made sense to have
it here.
The college received a $2,000 grant for the
march and expects over 500 attendees and participants, said
Bavacqua.
April and October are sexual assault awareness months, she
said. Colleges and communities hold the rally in either
one of the months.
There will be about 20 student groups that
are participating in the event, she said.
The rally will include poetry readings, speakers
and a march to the Union Quad.
• introduction by Bavacqua
• history and overview of Take
Back the Night
• poetry readings by five victims
• Stacy Branchini, founder of It
Happened to Alexa Foundation, will speak
• Alexa, Branchini’s daughter, will speak
• student leaders will speak out against violence
• purple glow sticks will be distributed
• march to the Union Quad with purple ribbons
• ending speech for the rally in the Quad
Sophomore Justin Vernold, vice-president of
College Democrats, didn’t know about the rally on
Thursday, but said that he would go in support of the victims.
He knows domestic violence and rape is a problem
and is concerned about it.
“My girlfriend takes the bus from UB
all the time and even though I wait for her, I worry,”
Vernold said.
Ted McInerney, president of College Democrats,
said he has heard about Take Back the Night and would definitely
attend.
“It’s an issue that is taken seriously by our
political party and we definitely stand up for women’s
rights and provide assistance,” he said.
The College Democrats are not a part of the
rally this year because they are a new chapter. However,
McInerney said they would absolutely partake in future events.
Sandra Kelly can be reached at sandykelly@gmail.com
Links:
http://www.takebackthenight.org
http://www.buffalostate.edu/tour/index.asp?sectid=sa&phnum=6
http://www.ithappenedtoalexa.org/
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