Take Back the Night photograph, 1985

Take Back the Night photograph, 1985

This photograph features participants in a Take Back the Night walk through the residential neighborhoods near campus on October 19, 1985. Take Back the Night walks emerged in the United States in the late 1970s as a call for increased safety for women and a protest against violence against women, particularly sexual assault. The Peoria National Organization for Women organized the 1985 walk through the West Bluff to raise awareness that women were not safe at night, even in campus-area neighborhoods. A Bradley student organization, the Council for Women's Awareness, joined in the walk and made it part of Awareness Week on campus, which included programs about date rape, eating disorders, and other issues students experience. This Take Back the Night event occurred amidst and in response to growing awareness among Bradley students about the high rates of sexual violence suffered by their female peers and contentious campus-wide debates over the nature of sexual violence. Events like Take Back the Night helped counter erroneous and harmful beliefs such as the claim that sexual violence is linked to women’s behavior or body language. Visit our student newspaper archives in person or online to see how Bradley students attempted to improve safety and awareness on this and other issues over the years. If you have experienced sexual or other violence, please seek help. Confidential reporting can be done through Bradley’s Counseling Center (309) 677-2700. Bradley University Police can be contacted at (309) 677-2000.

October 19, 1985

Feminism

For official publication permission or to request high resolution images, contact Special Collections at specialcollections@bradley.edu or (309)677-2822.