BY SYDNEY BORTON
The Sheridan community is getting ready to take a stand against sexual assault and violence.
On Thursday, Oct. 5 Sheridan will be hosting its 5th annual Take Back the Night event.
Take Back the Night originated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in October 1975 after a microbiologist named Susan Alexander Speeth was murdered while she walked home alone. The Take Back the Night march was created to raise awareness and put an end to sexual, relationship, and domestic violence.
Sheridan’s Take Back the Night event started in 2013, when the Social Service Worker and Child and Youth Care program Peer Mentors partnered with the Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Services of Halton (SAVIS) to start this event at Sheridan.
Nicole Johnson, Social Service Worker Program Coordinator at Sheridan’s Davis Campus, shared some disturbing statistics about violence.
Johnson feels the event is extremely important to the Sheridan community.
“We all need to do our part in sending a message that violence is not acceptable, to know how we can support survivors effectively and also to continue to advocate for more supports and systems that can better support survivors,” she said.
“Sheridan College is home to many students that can make a difference in raising awareness of violence and sending a message that violence is never acceptable. This year we will continue to make that message clear with the power of our community.”
This year, Sheridan and SAVIS have partnered with the Peel Aboriginal Network, The Centre for Indigenous Learning and Support, the SSU, Student Affairs, and The Centre for Equity and Inclusion.
The evening will begin with opening remarks from the event’s partners, a survivor of sexual assault sharing their experience, and a song performed by a Peer Mentor, followed by a march around campus.
Although the event tends to focus on ending violence against women, people of all gender identities are welcome to attend and show their support.
The event will be held at The Marquee at the Trafalgar Campus on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 6:30 p.m.
