Take Back the Night 2025

SWE members at TBTN 2025

“Take Back the Night”. I had never heard this phrase before joining SWE yet the second I heard it, I had a gut feeling that this was something important. After doing some research, I found out that Take Back the Night is a protest against sexual violence that has been going on since the 1970s. How could I not have known about something so important? The origins of TBTN lie in the gruesome attacks against women on the streets of Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Los Angeles in the 1970s. Women took a stand, protesting for safer conditions on the streets, proclaiming it was time to “take back the night”. 

And we’ve been doing it ever since. Take Back the Night has been a tradition at college campuses across the world since 1978. I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of this immensely important cause. We all deserve to walk at night without fear of being attacked.

I began attending Take Back the Night meetings which are led by ASAP, Abuse and Sexual Assault Prevention, on behalf of SWE. As we made bracelets and posters for Take Back the Night, I heard about the incredible work ASAP does. It was inspiring how people from many different groups across campus, ASAP, SWE, fraternities, sororities, PAGE, magazines, etc. came together to work on this event. So much planning went into this year’s Take Back the Night, and it all paid off.

Take Back the Night this year was on Thursday April 3rd, 2025. It was a beautiful and sunny 70 degree day and the rain thankfully held up. I was shocked to see a poster with data from a recent survey that said 27% of women at Penn had been sexually assaulted over the course of their four years. The part of Locust Walk opposite College Green was lined with tables providing resources and information about sexual violence, addressing this concerning statistic. More and more people showed up and the buzz of excitement grew. Around 5:45pm the rally began and speakers spoke about the importance of bringing awareness to sexual violence, especially on college campuses. Handmade, colorful posters with clever messages like “No Means No” and “Break the Silence, End the Violence” were handed out and everyone gathered on Locust. The support was huge: people from clubs all across campus, frats, sororities, and passersby were participating in the march. The Penn Band led us off, the drums resounding with the anticipation of supporting a great cause. Everyone began to chant from the sheet of chants handed out. “Students unite, take back the night!”. “The way I dress is not a yes”. And lots more. The march continued all the way down Locust Walk, turned onto 40th Street, and down Walnut Street. People took turns with the megaphone, proudly chanting the demands for safety on the street at night. After about an hour, we reached Houston Hall where there was a candlelight vigil and a moment of silence for those who have experienced sexual violence. 

Take Back the Night allowed the Penn community to come together and demand a safer campus. It was inspiring to see the amount of people who supported this cause and joined forces to make a difference. Together, we can ensure our campus is safe for everyone and TAKE BACK THE NIGHT.