This April, students, faculty, and staff at Mt. Hood Community College will join with local community members to take a stand against sexual and domestic violence.
The college will host a Take Back The Night rally and march on Thursday, April 25, from 6 – 8 p.m. at the MHCC Track and Field. Dr. Chris Gorsek, an instructor at the college and a member of the Oregon House of Representatives, will speak at the rally. Attendees will also learn about preventative measures against violence and join in denouncing all forms of violence.
Take Back The Night rallies represent some of the earliest worldwide protests against sexual violence. They began in the 1960s in Europe before coming to the United States in the early 1970s. They focus on protesting and bringing an end to sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, sexual abuse, and all other forms of sexual violence and in supporting the victims of such crimes.
According to the Take Back The Night Foundation, 1 in 3 women worldwide experience some form of sexual violence or intimate partner violence. 1 in 6 men experience sexual violence. Among both men and women, less than 50 percent of victims report these types of crimes.
“Sexual violence is a very prevalent issue at colleges and universities, so it’s important that we discuss this topic at MHCC and show that it’s not appropriate behavior,” said Fardwosa Duale, a member of the college’s Associated Student Government (ASG) and the event organizer. “The Take Back The Night rally is just one way we’re doing that.”
Earlier this month, MHCC’s Student Life and the ASG hosted a Consent and Healthy Relationships Workshop, which included a talk by members of the domestic violence shelter Raphael House of Portland on recognizing sexual and domestic violence and on resources available to victims of violence. Attendees learned about the importance of consent and the characteristics of equitable and safe relationships and how to identify red flags of abusive behavior.
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Take Back The Night Rally at MHCC
Thursday, April 25, 6 – 8 p.m.
MHCC Track and Field
Gresham Campus – Health and PE area