17th Annual Women and Men Take Back the Night March

Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Time: 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Location: Marquette Horeshoe

Loyola University New Orleans announces the 17th annual “Women and Men Take Back the Night” march on Wednesday, November 5. This community event, sponsored by Loyola and Tulane Universities, will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Marquette Hall horseshoe, on the Loyola University main campus, 6363 St. Charles Avenue.

This community event, sponsored by Loyola and Tulane universities, is a call to end sexual violence against women, men, and children. It is also a powerful healing ritual for survivors of violence and for the men and women who care about them.

Opening Ceremonies begin at 5:30pm on Loyola's campus in the Marquette horseshoe.

The evening is designed primarily to heighten awareness of sexual violence against women and to empower female survivors. The emotionally powerful evening will begin with speakers from Loyola, Tulane and the New Orleans community who will share their personal stories of abuse and healing. Following the speeches, at 6:15 p.m. a candlelight march will proceed to Roger’s Chapel on Tulane’s campus. At 6:30 p.m., the closing ceremonies will offer an open microphone.

This year will be the third year that a fundraiser for local service providers for survivors will be held. Raffle tickets will be $1 and there will be the chance to win one of many "gift baskets" containing items such as gift certificates to local businesses. Raffle tickets will be sold on both Loyola and Tulane's campuses starting on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 and will be sold up through the night of the event.

This will be the first year that t-shirts will be given away and not sold. In order to obtain a t-shirt we ask that people commit to and sign a "Bystander Pledge" which is a pledge to not contribute to bystander behavior related to sexual or violence. This focus on bystander behavior this year speaks to the idea that putting an end to sexual violence is the community as a whole's responsibility. T-shirts will be available starting on Wednesday, October 29th and will be given out on a first come first serve basis.

Tables will be set up in the Dana Center on Loyola's Campus and on Tulane's campus for raffle ticket sales and t-shirts. Monetary donations will benefit the Metropolitan Center for Women and Children, the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program at University Hospital and Crescent House/The Family Justice Center.

The "Take Back the Night" march is open to the entire community, including women, men, survivors and supporters.

For additional information contact: Ilyse Goldberg at 865-3835 or by email at isgoldbe@loyno.edu

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