35th Annual Take Back the Night April 24

The University of Scranton will host the 35th Annual Take Back the Night on April 24. Continuing the decades-long commitment to ending sexual and interpersonal violence and standing in solidarity with those impacted through a lens of justice and compassion, within the campus and greater Scranton community.

Take Back the Night is an internationally-recognized event that raises awareness of sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, stalking, and other forms of gender-based harm. The University’s observance of this event reflects its Jesuit mission to walk with those who suffer, to seek justice and to foster a community in which h the dignity of every person is upheld and protected.

As part of the day’s programming, the Clothesline Project will be displayed on campus. The Clothesline Project is a powerful visual testimony to the impact of violence. Persons who have experienced violence, and allies create T-shirts bearing messages of pain, healing, hope and resistance, which are then hung side by side on a clothesline. This display invites the community to reflect, bear witness, and renew its commitment to a world free from violence. The display will be available throughout the day and serves as a poignant lead-in to the evening’s events.

This year’s program will include a series of events throughout the evening:

• Pre-Rally, 5 p.m.– 6:30 p.m.: An educational fair featuring student clubs, campus organizations, and local community partners. Participants will host interactive tables focused on the prevention of sexual and interpersonal violence, ways to support persons who experience violence, and educational resources.

• March, 6:45 p.m.: A visible act of solidarity that brings attention to and protests all forms of violence. The march will move through campus, symbolizing a reclaiming of public spaces and a unified stand against harm.

• Speak Out, immediately following the march: A powerful and intimate space where folks who have experienced sexual, gender-based, and interpersonal violence are invited to share their stories. Attendees are encouraged to listen, bear witness, and offer their support through presence and solidarity.

• Candlelight Vigil: The evening will close with a moment of reflection and remembrance, honoring those who have been impacted by violence and reaffirming a collective commitment to creating a safer, more just, and compassionate world.

"Take Back the Night calls us to live out our mission more fully—by standing with those whose voices have too often been silenced, by listening deeply to individuals healing from violence, and by fostering a campus culture rooted in radical empathy, courageous accountability, and a shared commitment to justice and healing,” said Brandice Ricciardi, assistant director, Jane Kopas Women’s Center. “It reminds us that every voice raised, and every story heard moves us closer to a future free from violence.”

The event is open to all students, faculty, and staff. For more information, to volunteer, or to learn more about campus and community resources, please contact the Jane Kopas Women’s Center at JKWC@scranton.edu.