Take Back the Night is not what I would call a typical campus event because of the vast number of individuals who have experienced sexual violence or know someone who has experienced it. TBTN gives survivors and supporters an opportunity to actively challenge the silence that perpetuates notions that sexually based crimes like rape do not occur frequently.
1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men will be sexually assaulted at some point in their lifetime. These stats are enough cause to speak openly about rape, incest, sexual abuse, and battery, which is what makes TBTN so powerful. What makes it important for events like TBTN to be held on campuses like Barnard/Columbia is that women in college are four times more likely to be sexually assaulted. I think we often forget or do not acknowledge how prevalent sexually based crimes on university campuses and in America in general.