According to the Sexual Assault Center of Northeast Georgia, 87 percent of women raped know their attackers.

Thursday, Take Back the Night will bring awareness to the issues of sexual and domestic violence. Tabling groups include Project Safe, the Jeanette Rankin Foundation, Feminist Outlaws, Lambda Alliance, Women’s Studies Student Organization and the Office for Violence Prevention.

Take Back the Night is “premised on the belief that women as well as men deserve a safe environment where they can go out . and even drink without worrying about violence,” said Elisabeth Joy Strickland, a women’s studies and sociology major.

During the day, students can come and enjoy free food while listening to speakers including Joan Prittie, director of Project Safe, and Lucas Franklin, outreach coordinator for the Sexual Assault Center.

A giant crossword puzzle with a “Fill in the Rape Myth” theme, along with the creation of an inspirational message paper chain are activities scheduled throughout the day. Claire Campbell of Hope for agoldensummer will provide musical entertainment.

“People still blame the victim,” Franklin said. “We want to convey the message that anyone at anytime can be a victim of sexual assault. The typical response is to wonder why the woman was drinking, why she was alone and why she just didn’t protect herself.”

Referring to this mentality as “rape culture,” Franklin emphasized the dangerous and unfair tendencies for society to assume a rape victim is weak and deserving of the crime.

“Take Back the Night is a night for women to feel empowered, while criticizing the behavior of the rapist itself as a criminal instead of looking at what the woman did wrong,” said Avery White, an art and women’s studies major.

WSSO plans to begin a campaign called “Don’t Rape,” said Strickland.

“The University has an obligation to provide a safe environment for its clients,” she said.

A candlelit march to City Hall will be led by Radical Cheerleaders who teach chants like “Sexist, racist, anti-gay, you can’t take our rights away!” and “No more violence, no more rape, no more silence, no more hate!”

At City Hall, an open-mic forum will give anyone the opportunity to share personal stories dealing with violence. Stories have ranged in the past from domestic violence to rape to incest survivors.

Last year, approximately 100 people gathered for the march, said Franklin. “This year, we’re hoping to increase that number to at least 500.”

B.J. Ard, a fifth year student from Warner Robins who participated in Take Back the Night, said it is “eye-opening how many people’s lives are impacted by sexual violence, and at the same time how little people talk about it and how much needs to be done.”