Iowa State Daily Editorial Board: Troy McCullough, Tim Davis, Jennifer Holland, Kathleen Carlson and Jenny Hykes.

Participation in the annual Take Back the Night rally was a success compared to a few years ago, but awareness and prevention of violence should not stop at the end of the march.

The Take Back the Night rally, which took place last Thursday night, was held to encourage the empowerment of women and to appeal to men to stop the violence, since the majority of violence against women is committed by men.

A couple of years ago, some drunk fraternity members who were unaware of the purpose of the rally yelled sexually demeaning remarks at the marchers.

But this year, several fraternities participated in the rally by lighting illuminaries on their front lawns.

Participants listened to various speakers, including a surviving rape victim, and then marched holding candles and chanting.

Rallies, such as this one, are needed on campus and everywhere to serve as an impetus to create awareness about the violence against women and the terror it causes them. People need to understand and respect all humans, regardless of sex, and know that no means no.

About 40 of the total 200 participants were men, but considering the population of men here, this number represents a relatively small number.

Lynette Ward, of ACCESS, who spoke at the rally, said, according to the Daily, “15 percent of all women on campus are raped every year.”

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IS HAPPENING EVERY YEAR HERE AT IOWA STATE.