“Take Back the Night” to raise awareness about power-based violence

Power-based violence, which is abuse in any form made through an assertion of power, including sexual, dating or domestic violence, is unacceptable, and Rowan University has long established policies against it.

On April 2 from 6 to 8 p.m., Rowan will hold its annual Take Back the Night program to protest all forms of power-based violence, from stalking and sexual harassment to any other threat.

As in years past, the program in the Student Center Pit (Chamberlain Student Center) is sponsored by Rowan’s Wellness Center, which will provide on-site counselors for any participants or observers who might need them.

Jean Corcione, graduate coordinator for the Wellness Center, said this year’s program includes more interactive tabling in the Pit as well as a more intimate space to share and listen to stories from those impacted by power-based violence.

“It’s important that we take part in events like Take Back the Night because they show we’re listening, that anyone affected by violence has a voice at Rowan, and we support them,” Corcione said.

Allie Pearce, assistant director of Health Innovation and Quality Assurance in the Wellness Center, said the program, which has been held at Rowan since at least 2010, is intended to not just raise awareness but to give those affected by power-based violence, as well as friends and loved ones, a means to vent the anger and hurt it may have caused them.

She noted that Rowan faculty, administrators, health professionals and public safety officers take prevention of power-based violence seriously and provide programming to lower the incidence of it on campus from orientation throughout students’ time in college.

“We want people to feel comfortable reporting these incidents,” Pearce said. “At Rowan, we want to create a culture and a campus where people feel safe and supported, especially in the aftermath of violence.”

For more information, email Corcione at corcio62@students.rowan.edu.