PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Students and faculty members at the University of Maine at Presque Isle marched across campus in a peaceful protest against sexual and domestic violence.
The protest and unity event, called Take Back the Night, happened Monday evening, Oct. 23, drawing 41 people, which is about 10 to 12 more people compared to the previous year, according to Maddie Buzza, president of the Student Organization of Social Workers.
“Knowing that students are there for each other and will advocate for one another’s concerns without any judgment is probably the biggest takeaway from [Take Back the Night],” Buzza said.
Four student organizations participated in Take Back the Night: the Black Student Union, Criminal Justice Club, Rainbow Society, and the Student Organization of Social Workers.
The route for the protest march began at South Hall on campus around the most traveled pathways for students before ending back where they started.
“Take Back the Night is where we advocate and take a stand against gendered violence of any kind,” said Beverly Wagner, Bachelor of Social Work Program director. “It’s an opportunity for all of us to get out to walk at night when most partner violence occurs.”
The statistics shared from the Take Back the Night website noted LGBTQIA+ people are more likely to experience sexual violence, with two in three transgender people having been sexually assaulted. One in three women worldwide experience sexual violence, one in six men experience sexual violence, and less than 50 percent of victims report these crimes.
Guest speakers at the event were Kelly McKay, sexual assault advocate for Aroostook Mental Health Center (AMHC) in Houlton; Wendy Page, supervisor for AMHC in Caribou; Anita Hubert, office manager for AMHC in Houlton; Karessa Grenier, operations coordinator at the Hope and Justice Project; and Keely LeBlanc, confidential resource advisor at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
Each speaker spoke about their program’s resources and how to get in touch with them.
Organization for the annual October protest and event was done by the Student Organization of Social Workers, with the signs planted around campus to spread awareness of sexual assault and domestic violence for the entire month.
