The 13th annual Take Back the Night was held Tuesday, April 5 in Banquet Room B of the Oakland Center.

It brought physically and sexually abused men and women together to share their stories and allowed their supporters to reassure them that they are not alone.

Many women, as well as men, have been victims of abuse and Haven is an organization devoted to helping them regain and maintain strength and belief in themselves.

A lot , over the past three months, went into making the event a success. Haven representative Cristy Cardinal expressed her gratitude to Jean Ann Miller, director of the Center for Student Activities, and John Miller for all of their help and hospitality.

Cardinal said that this was the second time Oakland hosted Take Back the Night. “I love this room, and it gives just the right amount of space for everything,” she said. Cardinal also said she will most definitely be using OU again in the future.

Oakland University donated the space as well as the food that was available for everyone. One item wasthe cup of chocolate mousse Cardinal mentioned specifically in her welcome speech provided by John Miller.

Jean Ann Miller was key in putting together the event. There were also a number of committees responsible for the different aspects of the event. Aside from getting a space to hold the event and food there were bands for entertainments and sign language interpreters.

There were a number of different booths at the event, some that were Oakland University groups like the Oakland Police Department, which handed out fliers for self defense, and the OU Health Center.

Planned Parenthood, Henna Body Art, Sign Language, a Massage Therapist wearing a thumbs of steel t-shirt, and HAVEN were few of the different booths that were not OU organizations. Not only was the space and food donated to the cause but each one of the other booths were free of charge for HAVEN,too.

One of the most popular booths was the Clothesline Project booth. The Clothesline Project is a visual display that bears witness to sexual and domestic violence, which explains the trail of written on t-shirts as you walk up the stairs to the banquet room.

The Clothesline booth allowed people that had been assaulted, or someone that was a supporter of someone that had been assaulted, to make a shirt to tell their story. Clothesline provided white shirts and puff paint in an array of colors.

There was also a march around campus. Marchers held signs and chanted slogans such as “No More Date Rape”, “Take Back the Night”, and “No More, No More.” .

The most intense activity was the “Speak Out”. Participants wearing white and teal bands, white standing for the allies and supporters of victims and teal for the victims, and stood up and shared their stories.

“The Speak Out usually draws the most people,” Cardinal said, “but it also brings out the most emotions too.”

Take Back the Night was considered a success and attendees, including a volunteer who was a hotline counselor with Haven, seemed pleased to be there.

Men and women both participated in the event and during the closing remarks everyone’s comments were positive.

“This was a great event,” they said.