According to Jordan Kutcher '07, one of the protest's organizers and a Sexual Abuse Peer Advisor, the purpose of the rally was to "show solidarity across the college campus."
The group began in front of the Hopkins Center, walked down Massachusetts Row, traveled past the Choates, and even stormed through Novack Cafe before winding down in the center of the Green. The leaders of the gathering handed out candles and asked for a moment of silence.
According to Kutcher, the event has been around for approximately 30 years.
Although this was not the first take back the night, coordinator and SAPA Ione Curva '07 said it was the first that she had participated in. Rallies in previous years had been much less organized, Curva said. Last year's event only saw about half as many people, she observed, possibly due to inclement weather.
The participants of the rally were encouraged to "break the silence" by Sexual Assault Awareness Program Coordinator Leah Prescott, who then implored participants to "use whatever voice" they have to speak out against sexual assault.
"You give a voice to so many people who can't find their own," announced Megan Fallon, assistant director at the Center for Women and Gender. "For this, I thank all of you here tonight."
Following introductions, Rebekah '08, who wished to have her name withheld due to the sensitivity of her story, shared her emotionally charged story of her experience with sexual assault. She spoke to the audience about how she was "hurt and embarassed" by the way she had been treated and the damage the abuse caused in all aspects of her life. The story not only contained the details of this traumatic event, but also instructed students on how to deal with cases of sexual assault at Dartmouth.
Prescott also spoke to the audience, employing poetry. The first poem she read was dedicated to those who had participated in Take Back the Night at Harvard University this April. Her second composition featured a call and response with the assemblage of students, Prescott shouting "break," and the crowd responding with "the silence."
The organizers continued to make it a point to involve those who decided to attend the rally.
Asking people in the crowd to speak however they would like about the problem of sexual assault, Raj Koganti '08 addressed to the throng of ralliers about the abuses he had seen in other countries, such as his native India, and how he "couldn't believe it was happening here."
The event was sponsored by the Center for Women and Gender, the Sexual Assault Awareness Program, College Health Services, Epsilon Kappa Theta sorority and Tabard Coeducational Fraternity.
"Whether or not we have been directly affected, we all know people who have endured and triumped over sexual assault," Curva said.
"For me, this rally was about coming together as a community to support survivors."
