A record number of AU students marched through campus and into the Kay Spiritual Life Center Tuesday as part of the third annual Take Back the Night, taking a stance against domestic violence and sexual abuse.
"Take Back the Night has a different effect for each participant," Hollander said.
Take Back the Night was started by current organizer Jessica Hollander who worked with former AU employee Melva Jones to bring the event to AU after she and Jones heard about its presence at other colleges."
At 8 p.m., students gathered at Glover Gate, where they were continually pushed farther down Massachusetts Avenue in an effort to accommodate the large number of participants.
"This year, no less than 300 people walked, but our estimates are between 400 and 450," said Lauren House, who helped organize the event and will be the future program coordinator.
Public Safety distributed whistles and event volunteers handed out sheets with various chants for participants as they marched through the amphitheater, past the library and onto Massachusetts Avenue.
In Kay, a candlelight vigil was held were speakers talked about their experience with sexual abuse and assault and domestic
violence.
Some of the speakers had volunteered to share their experiences before the event, while others were audience members who felt inspired to share their stories.
"The courage and bravery of those people take my breath away," said Hollander.
House said there was standing room only for the first two speakers and although people gradually left, "far, far into the night, we still had a packed house, which is unusual because most people stay for only a couple [testimonials]."
Katlyn Miller, a freshman in the School of Public Affairs, stayed for the entire event.
"I was really impressed at the overall presence and the male presence," said Miller, noting the relatively large number of males who attended.
"There were all these people getting up who I've seen around campus," Miller said. "I saw a completely different side to them. ... It made me have great respect for them. "
House also spoke at the event about her own personal experience.
"The very essence of Take Back the Night feeds off this willingness to put yourself out there in what seems like an uncomfortable position, but through everyone's mutual understanding of why we're having Take Back the Night and what the goal of it is," she said. "It's not that uncomfortable when you get up there."
House hopes that by sharing her experiences she will be able to inspire hope in others that were victims of violence.
"I tell a lot of people about my experience because I've come to a place where I'm at peace with most of it and there are so many people out there who aren't," she said. "I think me being in the place I am now shows them their lives will get better"
