Collegiate Times

People all over the Blacksburg community opened doors and windows last night to hear the demands of hundreds of women as they marched all over town challenging their audience to end sexual harassment and domestic violence.

Chelsea Benincasa, president of Womanspace and senior communication major said she hopes the event affects a variety of people — not just women.

The march started on the Drillfield and stormed down Main Street in Blacksburg. Susan Anderson, faculty advisor for Womanspace rallied the march and asked fellow marchers what they wanted. All responded, “Equal Rights!”

Benincasa and many others feel it is imperative to continue to have this event, not only for the sake of the campus, but the community as well.

“I feel that it is extremely important that we have events like this on campus, because one in four women on a college campus will have an experience with sexual abuse,” Benincasa said.

An event like this imparts hope in many women who are looking to heal.

“When women become united like this for one night, we cannot be defeated…A lot of people have been affected and don’t know who to speak too,” Benincasa said.

This event provides an outlet for those who may not be so open with their personal experiences regarding sexual abuse.

“There are subtle forms of sexual harassment and there are huge forms of sexual harassment and they happen everyday,” Benincasa said. “A lot of the assaults on college campuses are under reported.”

Planning for the rally takes the group a lot of time.

“We started planning in December,” Benincasa said. “This is our 18th annual rally. I would say we try to make them as interactive as possible and really engage the community … This is an event for all people, for men and women, we encourage everyone to come regardless of age or gender; it is not an all women only event.”

Sponsored by Womanspace, other co-coordinators who helped the event come together were Jennifer Butler, a faculty member for Womanspace, and Amanda Clark, a senior history and art history major.

Clark knows that to plan an event such as this that details no matter how large or small are in need of being taken care of.

“We take care of a lot of small details like cutting ribbons, folding programs.”

Some of the larger details that Clark illuminated were receiving permission from the city for the march and permission from the university to have the rally convene on the Drillfield.

At the event, Benincasa read a series of support letters from politicians. Specifically, the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors when meeting March 12, were more than willing to support the event. Sen. Jim Webb also sent a letter of support. Webb asserted that, “we must continue to be diligent to give people the resources to report abuse.”

Personal testimonies were given my two women who have experienced or have had friends who have been subjected to sexual abuse or domestic violence. Benincasa said the stories “(have a strong impact) and really engage the audience.”

Butler who welcomed the event stated, “In solidarity and strength in numbers … together we can take back the night.”

Following her welcome there was acoustic music performed by local artist, Kristi Emmons. With her lyrics she self-assured other women that “it’s ok” to not be a model on the pages of a fashion magazine and embodies the natural woman.

Remarks at the event were made by Amy Clements for the Women’s Center at Virginia Tech, Gary Bennett for the Cook Counseling Center, Tara Brewster for Women’s Resource Center of the New River Valley and Allie Woo, health advocate for Alpha Delta Pi.

Trish Whitney, a senior English and theatre double major has been an avid supporter of this event for a long time.

“This is my third year out, a lot of my friends have been affected by this including myself. It is good to show the community that we support the women who have been affected by violence,” Whitney said.

Butler shared what called her to become so involved with Womanspace.

“I was sexually assaulted in high school and I heard about Womanspace and the Take Back the Night rally and wanted to get involved,” she said.
In helping others heal, Butler said she was able to heal herself from her own experiences.

Benincasa was inspired to become involved with Womanspace when she was a freshman at Tech. Benincasa was undertaking a project for the Women’s Center and at a Womanspace meeting was convicted by a “very graphic” personal testimony given by a speaker there. It was then that
Benincasa committed to actively becoming involved with Womanspace throughout her college experience.

Clark discovered Womanspace through a Women Studies course she took at Tech. After completing her required service hours she committed to staying involved with the group.

Taylor Cole from Blacksburg was one of the many attendees eager to march and shared her feelings on the event.

“A lot of people don’t really know about it … it’s good that people will notice,” Cole said.

Cole knows that an event of this size will certainly create more awareness of sexual abuse and domestic violence in our community.