Lindsey Wilson College Take Back the Night Rally Kicks Off Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month


COLUMBIA, KY. -- Lindsey Wilson College got an early start to Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month on Tuesday when the annual ‘Take Back the Night’ Rally was held in the Cralle Student Union Building on the A.P. White Campus. 'Take Back the Night' was the first of several events that the college will host in April in observance of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month including: National Wear Teal Day, Chalk the Walk, Teal Tie Dye Day and National Denim Day.

‘Take Back the Night’ included an introduction by LWC student Kamil Malone and talks from LWC Student Krysten Parson, LWC Title IX Coordinator Andy McAllister, and Attorney for KY Association of Sexual Assault Programs Laela Kashan.

LWC Associate Professor of English and Women’s Studies Program Coordinator Kara Mollis said that ‘Take Back the Night’ is an event that is especially important for colleges and universities.

“Take Back the Night’ events have a longstanding history and take place in various communities around the nation,” said Mollis. “However, it is especially important to have ‘Take Back the Night’ and similar events on college campuses given the pervasiveness of sexual assault in that particular environment.  The purpose of the event is to raise awareness about the problem of sexual violence, to empower students, staff, and faculty by providing essential information on sexual assault, including information about Title IX and to work toward prevention by taking a collective stance against sexual violence.”

Dean of Students Chris Schmidt said that starting the month off with ‘Take Back the Night’ was a change of pace from previous years at the college.

“Typically ‘Take Back the Night’ has been sort of a culminating event for us,” said Schmidt. “But we saw it as such a significant platform that we wanted to start the month off with it. Lindsey Wilson College has always put its best foot forward in addressing these types of issues and it’s good to see so many of our groups and organizations coming together to make nights like this a reality.”

Krysten Parson, a human services and counseling senior from Russell Springs, Ky., is minoring in women’s studies and got involved in the event as part of her Capstone project.

“Sexual Assault Awareness is something I’ve been very passionate about during my journey through the women’s studies minor at LWC,” Said Parson. “Sexual assault is something that can happen to anyone of any age, race or gender and it was good to see such a diverse group of people here tonight that want to learn and share support for these issues.”

To read more about the event and its history, visit takebackthenight.org.