By Abbie Dunham

A woman is raped every two minutes in America, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Today, St. Cloud State University will help survivors “Take Back the Night” with its 19th annual rally to raise awareness on sexual and domestic abuse.

After two years of absence because of a club disbandment, CSB/SJU students are taking on the task of getting their campus and the St. Joe community involved once again.

Juniors Amy Marschall and Annemieke Lagerwaard heard about the event through their summer internship with Central MN Sexual Assault Center in St. Cloud and decided to take on the project themselves. They have organized a bus to leave Gorecki the night of the rally at 6 p.m. for any students, faculty or community members who would like to attend.

“We want CSB/SJU to get involved with the event at St. Cloud to show others that it is an important issue to us,” Marschall said. “It is a great opportunity to stand up for something you believe in.”

The social work club, Prism and the new campus group Witness Me have worked hard on promoting the event around campus with mass e-mails and word of mouth.

St. Cloud State’s Women Center, a co-sponsor of the event, will hold the rally at Barden Park (located on the corner of 5th Ave. South and 7th St. South) in St. Cloud.

The rally will include a march, activities for children, live music and food. Patricia Weaver, author of “Telling: A Memoir of Rape and Recovery,” will share her story with the audience as a keynote speaker.

Survivors of sexual or domestic abuse will also be given the chance to stand on stage and share their stories as a part of an open mic event.

“It is all part of the healing process,” Marschall said.

Lee LaDue, coordinator of the Gender Violence Prevention Program at SCSU hopes that students will see the power in numbers. In the past years 200 — 400 people have participated.

“It will make a powerful statement if the survivors look out and see a big crowd,” LaDue said. “It will make them feel less alone.”

For additional information or volunteer opportunities, please contact Amy Marschall at almarschall@csbsju.edu

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