On April 16, the Office of Campus Activities, Service and Leadership hosted “Take Back the Night” at Wightman Stadium, a two hour event to raise awareness, stand in solidarity and amplify voices in the fight against sexual assault and violence.

With a program schedule filled from the opening of the event to the close, students of all walks of life attended, including athletics, Greek life and those looking for a night of informative dialogue.

The night began with an opening statement from Sobia Mahmood, Title IX coordinator of William Paterson, followed by an introduction of Theresa Bivlatez, campus social worker and victim advocate.

After powerful words from both Mahmood and Bivlatez, the event segued into a presentation from Dr. Michele Cascardi, a professor in the psychology department, who gave a 15 minute presentation that educated students and faculty on how to prevent and avoid sexual assault, whether it is happening to themselves or others.

Students were then introduced to hosts sophomore biology major Jessica Bangura and senior sports management major Aidan Montero.

“I know a lot of people that have gone through sexual violence, as well as domestic issues, and I personally see firsthand how much it hurts people in the process. So this is definitely an event that I want to come out and support and do whatever I can to help people that are going through the same thing,” mentions Bangura, who also minors in Chemistry and Political Science.

The event brought out a strong sense of student life and community, and for a student of Bangura’s nature, it was eye opening.

“To me, this is a sign of hope, and this is also a sign of comfort, that a lot of people are not alone in the journey that they’re taking, and that they have people around them that they don’t know, but they’re going through the same thing that they are. It’s comforting to know we’re creating a safe space,” states Bangura.

Montero, a brother of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., said the event was an opportunity to spread a deeper message that resonates across all backgrounds.

“To me, it’s just an opportunity for everybody to take a moment to just reflect on the real life things that go on, especially on campus. I feel like when it comes to sexual assault violence, it’s not something that men are able to openly speak about and kind of confront head on,” Montero indicates.

A business minor, Montero graduates in the spring and said he wanted to leave knowing he was part of a larger message, especially for those who have had experiences in the past.

“So we’ve been in talks for the last couple months and she [Barbee Edwards] just wanted me to come out and show support and hopefully bring some of my friends out as well. So that’s kind of how I got connected to the events of that.”

The advisor of CASL, Barbee Edwards, a William Paterson alumni who earned a BA in Community Development and Social Justice, began planning the event months in advance.

“Actually, it was my director’s idea, and she was like, if anybody can do it, it’s Barbee. And so I’ve been working on this since summer of last year.”

The event featured powerful performances, speakers and resources, along with free food and T shirts that attendees were encouraged to enjoy.

Members of the WP Gospel Choir performed an emotional rendition of “Rise Up” by Andra Day, followed by a spoken word performance by Kiara Creary, who is pursuing her master’s in Integrated Marketing Communications.

“I actually was invited for this event to do the spoken word as I did poetry on campus before, but it actually meant a lot to me because in my spoken word, I’m actually given a little bit of my testimony with the topic that we’re talking about tonight with Taking Back the Night.”

Through her spoken word, Creary connected with the audience on a deeper level, showing students that they are not alone in their journeys, no matter what they have experienced.

“ I’m happy that we’re spending awareness on the campus for this. And honestly, even just like telling my story through it, I think that a lot of people will resonate, even with the little bits and pieces that I’ve talked about with other people. Not a lot of people speak up about it, So this is actually a good opportunity to feel seen” says Creary.

After a rendition of “Lean on Me” by cybersecurity student Shafiullah Sotto, which had the audience clapping along, Bangura and Montero led a walk where statistics and awareness messages were shared at the start of each lap. The walk proved to be the most pivotal moments of the night, with more than 100 students walking for a greater cause.

“It means bringing awareness to sexual assaults that happen not only on campus, but in our area, and also how to prevent it if you can. And if you can’t prevent it, how to be an active bystander,” mentions Edwards.

The walk was followed by a performance of “I’m Still Standing” by Luis Figueroa before Bangura and Montero delivered closing remarks.

“If people are going through sexual violence and domestic violence, don’t be afraid to speak out, and don’t be afraid to use your voice because your voice is the most powerful weapon you have,” says Bangura.

Co-host Montero echoed that message. “ I would just like to tell everybody to think and think wisely. Sometimes you don’t realize that what you’re doing is considered assault because you haven’t been taught any better.”

Edwards, who played a central role in organizing the event, shared a powerful message about shifting responsibility and awareness.

“They tell us how to dress. They tell us to protect yourself. They tell us to carry mace, they tell us to do whatever you can scream. And that still doesn’t stop it. So instead of telling us how to react to it, tell them to stop assulting us. There’s a report called the Cleary Report, and it comes out, I think, every year, and if you go look for that report, it gives specific stats at William Patterson or any university of whether it’s been drug offenses, rape offenses, incests, fondling, things of that nature. So we should be aware of that.”

As the night came to a close, the message remained clear, awareness, support and community are essential in continuing the fight against sexual violence.