Women's Council takes back the night with silent march

UT students engaged in activities and gathered information at the HSS amphitheater on Tuesday, Oct. 23 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Photo/Ciera Noe

The Women’s Coordinating Council and participants silently marched through the Presidential Court on Tuesday, Oct. 23 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Photo/Ciera Noe

The banner fills up with more handprints at the HSS amphitheater on Tuesday, Oct. 23 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Photo/Ciera Noe

UT students painted words of encouragement for survivors on t-shirts at the HSS amphitheater on Tuesday, Oct. 23 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Photo/Ciera Noe

Finished t-shirts displayed for participants at the HSS amphitheater on Tuesday, Oct. 23 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Photo/Ciera Noe

Participants met with the local businesses at the HSS amphitheater to gather information on domestic violence and sexual assault on Tuesday, Oct. 23 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Photo/Ciera Noe

Council members encouraged participants to paint their handprints on the march banner at the HSS amphitheater on Tuesday, Oct. 23 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Photo/Ciera Noe

Examples of posters created by students lay on the grass at the “Take Back the Night” event in the HSS amphitheater. Photo/Ciera Noe

Students pick out free t-shirts provided by the council at the HSS amphitheater on Tuesday, Oct. 23 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Photo/Ciera Noe

Actions speak louder than words.

The University of Tennessee Women’s Coordinating Council hosted a silent march titled “Take Back the Night” in the Humanities and Social Sciences Amphitheater on Oct. 23 at 5:30 p.m. The council created this event to raise awareness and provide resources for those who have suffered from sexual assault and domestic violence.

“A lot of messages can get lost during marches where people are yelling,” council member Zoie Mull said. “We want to use the silence to break the silence.”

The council’s core values focus on gender equity, anti-racism, reproductive freedom and LGBTQ inclusivity.

“We’re very unapologetic about what we believe in and what we stand for,” co-coordinator Mallika Vohra said. “We want to be able to provide through our events a safe space and a welcoming space.”

Multiple businesses set up resource booths to provide information about sexual assault, domestic violence, safe sex and unplanned pregnancy. These local businesses prepared pamphlets that listed their services as well as help hotlines. The University of Tennessee also set up a booth for on-campus resources through the Title IX Commitment.

The council set up activity stations where participants could create posters and paint encouraging words onto t-shirts. The shirts are kept and displayed at the Women’s Coordinating Council events. Participants could also paint their hand prints on the banner used in the silent march.

More information about the Women’s Coordinating Council can be found on VOLink.

Featured Photo by Ciera Noe

Edited by Ainsley Kelso