Ralliers will take the ISU campus, Ames community and — more importantly — the night by storm to celebrate survivors and remember victims of sexual assault and violence.

Wednesday night marks the 11th year Take Back the Night has been held at Iowa State. This year’s events will begin at 7:30 p.m. on the Memorial Union Terrace and will feature three speakers, including a sexual assault survivor.

Shea Rentschler, president of the ISU Committee Against Violence, said Take Back the Night began in the United States in 1978 and has become a locally organized event to unify community members in an awareness of violence against women, children and families.

“People think sexual violence is only a women’s issue,” said Rentschler, graduate student in educational leadership and policy studies. “The purpose of Take Back the Night is to make people aware that this is everybody’s issue. We can’t fight violence against women, children and families without the participation of men in that.”

A silent march following the rally will sweep through Campustown and the greek community.

“Seeing a large group of people walk through the streets with candles lit and signs will send an intense message,” Rentschler said.

The march will conclude with a candlelight luminary on the shores of Lake LaVerne.

“Just being in an atmosphere that’s supportive gives everybody a sense of solidarity,” Rentschler said. “[Take Back the Night] provides a safe place where sexual assault and domestic violence survivors can come and share their experiences.”

Leigh Ebbesmeyer, director of training for the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault, said sexual assault is more prevalent in Iowa than most people know.

According to the crime victim assistance division of the Attorney General’s office, out of the 4,070 sexual assault victims who were seen by Iowa Sexual Assault Crisis Centers from July 1, 2001, through June 30, 2002, only 2,112 were reported to law enforcement.

Julie Wooden, sexual assault services coordinator for the ACCESS Assault Care Center, said the Story County Sexual Assault Response Team responded to 58 cases in 2002. Sixty-eight percent of those involved a survivor age 18 to 25.

The SART team receives about one report each week, but Wooden said only one out of every 10 sexual assaults is reported.

Ebbesmeyer said only about 2 percent of sexual assaults involve an unknown attacker hiding in bushes or a parking lot.

In reality, two-thirds of the 4,070 cases reported in Iowa from 2001 to 2002 took place between victims who knew their attackers. Fifty percent of attackers have abuse in their own background, she said.

“Sixty-five percent of sexual assaults happen in the home of the offender or the victim because they’re in a place where they think they can trust the person,” Ebbesmeyer said.

She said Take Back the Night provides participants with education and power.

“I think it shows victims that they are not the only one that this has happened to,” Ebbesmeyer said.

“It’s something they’re never going to forget and I don’t think they should. When they can see that it’s not their fault, it’s very healing.”