SUNY Plattsburgh Students Work to "Take Back the Night" April 17

PLATTSBURGH, NY (04/16/2009)(readMedia)-- Students, faculty and community members will gather on Friday, April 17, to raise awareness of violence against women. The "Take Back the Night" program, which includes speakers, artists and survivors' testimonies will start at 6 p.m. in Krinovitz Recital Hall in Hawkins Hall on the SUNY Plattsburgh campus. It will be followed by a march through downtown Plattsburgh.

"Take Back the Night" marches have been taking place in the United States for over three decades. Women at the Center for Women's Concerns at SUNY Plattsburgh were among the first in the nation to organize the local event.

This year, students have taken the program to a new level. Having obtained a permit from the city and the police, they will be marching in the street.

National statistics indicate that in the United States, a woman is sexually assaulted every 10 seconds. According to these statistics one in four women may experience sexual assault in her lifetime. There were 16 rapes reported to the City Police Department during the three years between 2005-2007. According to SUNY Plattsburgh Campus Crime statistics, there were 17 reported forcible sex offenses during the same three years.

Scholars and advocates who have studied and worked to end violence against women point out that rape, like other forms of violence against women, is underreported. One of the objectives of the event is to raise awareness of the resources available to support survivors of violence and to enhance the safety of individuals and the community, both on and off campus, according to Dr. Simona Sharoni, chair of the women's studies program at the college.

Last year over 200 people took part in the event. Organizers anticipate the attendance to be larger this year.

For more information contact Sharoni at work at 518-564-3026 or by cell phone at 518-335-7527.