Take Back The Night (TBTN) is an annual event that raises awareness of sexual violence in all forms, including sexual assault, sexual abuse, trafficking, stalking, gender harassment, and relationship violence. . It is an honorary evening where we give those impacted by sexual assault a chance to foster allyship and advocate against interpersonal violence and rape culture that occurs both in society as well as on college campuses. The event is designed to support survivors wherever they may be in their healing journey and provide our community with an opportunity to show solidarity and allyship. TBTN is part of a global initiative to end sexual and relationship violence and an event where all people join together to speak out against sexual and domestic violence.
Save the Date: April, 2025
Take Back The Night Planning Committee
The Take Back the Night Planning Committee is comprised of staff and students that are committed to developing and implementing an event centered on survivor support and focused on ending sexual violence.
Want to be a part of the TBTN Planning Committee? Please complete this form by December 6, 2024 to apply.
2025 Take Back The Night Pledge
By adding your name to the pledge, you agree to the statement below and to personally work towards ending interpersonal violence.
As members of the Syracuse University community, we will stand together against any form of interpersonal violence on this campus. Every member of our community is entitled to live and work in a respectful and safe environment, and we are committed to working toward creating such an environment. It is on all of us to support those impacted by sexual and relationship violence and demonstrate our commitment to acting as a prosocial bystander to intervene.
- We pledge to treat all people with respect and to never intentionally perpetuate violence in any form, including emotional, physical and sexual violence or verbal harassment.
- We pledge to act as a prosocial bystander by recognizing and safely intervening in situations where interpersonal violence may occur, to impact the situation in a positive way.
- We pledge to create an environment in which interpersonal violence is not tolerated and to make Syracuse University a safer place.
History of Take Back the Night
Take Back the Night is an annual event observed throughout the United States, as well as internationally, that brings community members together to speak out about sexual violence, relationship violence, and other forms of interpersonal violence. Take Back the Night provides an opportunity for community members to proclaim that each individual has the right to live free from violence and for the voices of those who have been affected by violence to be heard.
The origins of Take Back the Night are uncertain. It may have started in London, England in 1877, when women protested the fear and violence they experienced in the streets at night. Others believe that the first rally occurred in 1976 in Belgium when women attending the International Tribunal on Crimes Against Women lit candles and took to the streets to denounce the continuation of violence against women. Regardless of the origin of Take Back the Night, what is clear is the importance of these events. Thousands of Take Back the Night marches and rallies have taken place worldwide, including on college campuses, and this tradition continues.
Traditionally held in early April at Syracuse University, Take Back the Night is a collaboration of campus and community members, coming together to take a stand against all violence, to raise awareness about attitudes that perpetuate violence, and to discuss ways we can work together to make the night safe for all members of the community.