Holy Family University to Host Take Back the Night Event on April 25

Holy Family University will continue the world’s oldest tradition of standing against sexual violence on college campuses when it hosts Take Back the Night (TBTN), a free event on April 25 from 6:30-8:30 p.m., staged rain or shine on the Northeast Philadelphia campus (9801 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa. 19114). The TBTN movement dates back to the 1970s when Florida State University first organized a march to bring awareness to the issue.

TBTN has become an important awareness program for many college campuses nationwide and engages students, staff and faculty in the discussion of ending sexual violence on college campuses.

“Holy Family is excited to be a first-time participant in Take Back the Night,” said Director of Campus Advocacy Prevention and Education and TBTN organizer Kate Coffey. “The event will allow our HFU community to engage with panelists who are experts in their respective fields. In addition, the community will have the opportunity to network with various advocacy groups and show solidarity during an organized and impactful march on campus.”

The agenda for the evening will include:

6-6:30 p.m.- Networking Fair in the Lower Lobby of the Campus Center

6:30-6:45 p.m. -Brief Educational Overview of Sexual Violence presented by Network of Victim’s Assistance (NOVA) representative

6:45-7:30pm – Panel Discussion featuring panelists Marianne Price (HFU Title IX Coordinator); Cynthia Setter (NOVA Forensic Nurse), Quinn Pellerito (Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Assault (WOAR) Educator/Advocacy);  Tito Valdes (Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney);  Alexis Krieger (Philadelphia FBI Victim Specialist), and Kathyrn Gordon (Philadelphia Special Victims Unit SVU Detective).

7:30-8 p.m.- Attendees will be invited to take a glowstick and a carnation and join in a march around campus that will culminate at the Education & Technology Center where participants will be asked to place their flowers in a display devoted to those who have been lost or impacted by violence. The evening end with a moment of silence.

Holy Family University students are encouraged to register on the MyHFU portal under “events”. Public participation does not require registration.

For more information on Take Back the Night, please visit https://takebackthenight.org/  or cape@holyfamily.edu.