Students share stories about sexual assault


Students gathered at Tommy Trojan Thursday night for Survivor Speak OUT, an event that gave students who have survived sexual violence an opportunity to share their stories in a safe space.

Safe haven ·  Take Back the Week featured spoken word poet Andrea Gibson and her inspiring poems. Afterwards, the stage was open for sexual assault survivors to share their own stories. Kevin Fohrer | Daily Trojan

Safe haven · Take Back the Week featured spoken word poet Andrea Gibson and her inspiring poems. Afterwards, the stage was open for sexual assault survivors to share their own stories. Kevin Fohrer | Daily Trojan

The event served as the culminating event of Take Back the Week, a weeklong effort by the Women’s Student Assembly to raise awareness about sexual violence. Take Back the Week included the Clothesline Project; on Alumni Park, a night of “artivism” at Ground Zero and other panels and workshops concerning issues of sexual violence.

Survivor Speak OUT opened with introductions of several student services, including the counseling services offered by the Engemann Student Health Center.

The event featured a keynote address from award-winning poet and activist Andrea Gibson, introduced by Take Back the Night director Yesenia Menendez as someone who “is not gentle with her truths.”

Gibson’s performance was very powerful. She performed several potent spoken-word poems and provided encouraging words to the audience.

“Even if you don’t write poems, I really recommend writing a love poem to your body,” Gibson said as an introduction to her poem, “I Sing the Body Electric, Especially When My Power’s Out.”

After Gibson’s performance, the stage was opened up to survivors of sexual violence who were given the opportunity to share their stories. Several survivors took to the stage, sharing poems, stories and emotional outpourings to a supportive audience. Everyone in the audience held lighted candles throughout the Speak OUT.

The event attracted several dozen attendees.

“I’m interested in hearing what survivors have to say,” said Lilly Taing, a sophomore majoring in health and humanity. “A lot of people can’t or don’t understand how [survivors] are feeling or dealing with their situation, and a lot of time people blame [the survivors].”

Many survivors and supporters at the event advocated against victim-blaming, and created an encouraging environment for those who might blame themselves for the violence that had been committed against them.

Maggie Deagon, a sophomore majoring in Spanish and health and humanity, noted these events are important for bringing awareness to sexual assault.

“Events like this start a conversation about issues people might not be talking about otherwise,” Deagon said.

Taing agreed that the event brought important coverage toward the issue.

“Especially in front of Tommy Trojan, the center of campus, I think this event could cause students to take notice,” Taing said.

Indeed, several passersby stopped to see why a crowd had gathered around Tommy Trojan, and found a strong audience of people supporting one another.

After Speak OUT, the audience rose to walk together around campus with their lighted candles, letting their light take back the night from all the perpetrators of sexual assault.