I have been a contributing writer for the Culture section of the Daily Orange newspaper, an independent student-run newspaper that covers campus and the Syracuse area, since spring 2025. I am currently a staff writer for the Culture section and I recently contributed to the News section.
Read my most recent article below, originally published on the Daily Orange site!
Annual Take Back The Night raises awareness about sexual violence, health
Tables from student organizations filled the Schine Student Center’s Panasci Lounge as Syracuse University’s annual Take Back the Night event began Monday evening. From writing on old pairs of jeans to making friendship bracelets, attendees moved from table to table, participating in different activities all centered on empowering survivors of sexual assault.
Take Back the Night is the oldest worldwide movement to stand against sexual violence, according to its website. Grassroots protests began using the phrase “Take Back the Night” in the 1970s and officially became a foundation in 2001. Since then, TBTN has held events worldwide to create a space for sexual violence survivors to feel heard.
“It’s an extremely important topic to bring to any college campus and any place, literally anywhere, because sexual violence is something that happens everywhere, unfortunately,” Riga Czarkowski, the chair of the university affairs committee, said.
This marks the first year the Student Government Association has organized the annual SU event. Czarkowski said she began planning the event with fellow SGA members Asher Gonzalez and Siya Angras in September, coordinating with the Barnes Center at The Arch, which ran the event in previous years.
This year, Czarkowski said SGA wanted to focus on empowering survivors.
Amanda Kosta, a senior public health major, has been working for Syracuse’s local Planned Parenthood, which had a table at the event, since her sophomore year. The table passed out tools focused on women’s health, including menstrual kits and sexual protection items.
Sexual education trivia was also a featured activity, where attendees could spin a colored wheel and answer questions about safe sex practices. The game covered topics like sexually transmitted infections, barrier protection, menstruation and human anatomy, Kosta said.
“It's really bringing awareness to sexual violence as well, as much as it is bringing awareness to sexual health and power and positivity,” Kosta, who has participated in TBTN events since high school, said. “We're all stronger and safer when we talk about things and when we bring support and awareness.”
Chloe Martinez, the vice president of wellness and diversity, equity and inclusion for SU’s Panhellenic Council who was invited by SGA to table at the event, said the Panhellenic Council’s former vice president of health and wellness designed QR codes that link to a Title IX guide, Department of Public Safety and other campus resources.
The council’s table contained cards and teal bracelets and ribbons — the official color for Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
“I think that having programs like these and events like these really helps unite the community in a way that says, ‘Hey, we understand you and we stand with you, without having to say your story, without having to explain anything,’” Martinez said. “This really just shows we stand in solidarity.”
Zvipozvashe Ngwenya, a prevention educator at Vera House, a 50-year-old nonprofit that offers support for domestic and sexual violence survivors through prevention programs, therapies and counseling, handed out stickers reading “End Victim Blaming” and heart-shaped stress balls with the Vera House’s 24-hour support line.
“It's very important to spread awareness so that we begin to open these spaces for people, so that they feel safe, so that they know that they are not alone, and we are fighting this whole battle just to end violence and abuse,” Ngwenya said.
Attendees could also write on old pairs of jeans at The Fashion and Design Society’s table, their own version of Denim Day — an annual event held the last Wednesday in April where people wear jeans as a sign of support for victims of sexual violence.
Grace Kentrotas, a member of FADS, said attendees could write what makes them feel best when wearing their favorite jeans.
“Our goal of being here tonight is to give people a creative outlet to express themselves,” Kentrotas said. “Remind them that they're never alone, they always have support and be a positive space.”
Sigma Psi Zeta, a multicultural sorority at SU, displayed teal ribbons for Sexual Assault Awareness month and purple ribbons for Domestic Violence Awareness month. President Tamara Perez Martinez said the sorority's main philanthropy is combating gender violence. The chapter plans on holding a self-defense workshop on Tuesday, she added.
Other tables offered more hands-on activities. Katherine Waters, co-founder of Care Collective, a club run by undergraduate students majoring in social work, offered friendship bracelet kits at her table. La L.U.C.H.A. set up a scrapbooking station with stickers and markers so attendees could create a keepsake from the event, Ashley Lopez, the club’s education chair, said.
The event ended with a “speak about it” segment, which provided an open mic opportunity allowing anyone to speak about their experience in a situation of sexual assault.
“This is something that impacts so many people and students in general, so many women, also it is necessary that we talk about it, uplift survivors of sexual abuse and harassment,” Waters said. “We make it known that this is not acceptable on our campus, that we are with survivors, and that we are here to support and uplift, and that we are friends of survivors, and we're here to also listen.”
