SL Proposal

Contact Information:

Service Learning Proposal for National Organization for Women at UCF

By: Emily H

February 16, 2012

Meredith Tweed

WST 3015-001

Community Partner Profile:

Community Partner: National Organization for Women (NOW) at UCF, Take Back the Night

Contact: Kelly Quintero, nowucfcan@gmail.com

Community Partner Mission Statement: A campus chapter of the National Organization for Women, “NOW UCF works to provide a strong feminist presence and to impact our campus, our community and our country” (NOW UCF).

Political/Social Basis for Organization:

 “Political, economic, and social forces still combine to deprive women of safety from violence” (NOW UCF).  A large aspect of women’s studies “focuses on violence against women in this country and the many efforts to stop it” (Kirk and Okazawa-Rey 257).  A large portion of this violence occurs at night and often takes the form of street harassment or sexual violence. NOW at UCF believes that it is imperative to spread awareness of this problem while providing support for victims and survivors. One way we do this is by organizing “Take Back the Night marches and rallies on campus …where women and men speak out about their experiences with sexual violence” (Kirk and Okazawa-Rey 269). “Take Back the Night” is an event held around the world, and in the United States since 1975, in response to women’s fear of walking alone at night. “Take Back the Night [has become] known internationally as a visible way to take a stand against sexual violence, specifically violence against women” (History 1).

Community Partner Needs: NOW at UCF needs volunteers to assist in organizing and running this year’s “Take Back the Night” event on campus. Members are needed to be a part of a working committee for planning the logistical aspects of the event.

The Proposal:

A long-standing problem for women (and men) is the definition of a public street “as a male space where women without male escorts may be considered fair game” (Kirk and Okazawa-Rey 266). This fear of walking in public spaces at night, and the accompanying attacks that legitimize it, contribute to the statistic maintaining that at least one out of every four women will be the victim of a sexual assault during her time in college (Hirsch 52). The UCF Police Department reported thirty-two sexual assaults between 2008 and 2010 (Smith 1), but we know that as few as five percent of rape victims ever report their attack (Kirk and Okazawa-Rey 262). Night violence is not by any means exclusive to rape—it includes other forms of sexual assault, harassment, stalking, and non-sexual violence. “Take Back the Night” provides a space for survivors, women and men, to speak out about their experiences while continuing to raise awareness about these problems.

As a member of NOW at UCF, I have joined the committee working to organize and facilitate the 2012 “Take Back the Night” event on campus. I will assist in planning the march around campus to raise awareness and give the event a presence. I will work with others to arrange for faculty and community members to speak out against all forms of night violence. I will work closely with Kelly Quintero to create a promotional flyer advertising the event to UCF students. I will contact both the English and Women’s Studies Departments to ask that they inform their students of the event by sharing with them a promotional press release. I will look into an organization called SOAR, Speaking Out About Rape, and present my research at a NOW meeting so that the group may vote on a recipient of the donations we collect at “Take Back the Night.” I will also work with other committee members to create a banner to be displayed and ribbons to be worn, in solidarity, at the event. My overall goal is to be a helpful and responsible contributor to the group in order to plan an effective and successful “Take Back the Night” event that benefits the National Organization for Women, a local organization who shall receive a donation, and the overall UCF campus. Night violence is a serious problem that affects women and men in my campus community. This event will broaden and reinforce awareness of this problem while simultaneously fostering an environment where survivors and allies can speak out against these crimes and abuses.

Timeline:

1/28—First committee meeting for “Take Back the Night”

2/11—Second TBTN committee meeting

2/19—SOAR research due, present at third meeting, learn how to complete a Safe form for event

2/23—Present SOAR research at NOW meeting, vote on which organization will receive donations

2/26—Receive TBTN press release, send it to English and Women’s Studies Departments

3/16-21—Make banner and ribbons

3/22—Take Back the Night event!

Word Count: 785

Central Florida Future - University of Central Florida. Central Florida Future, 8 Oct.

2011. Web. 16 Feb. 2012. <http://www.centralfloridafuture.com/news/ucf-

police-department-releases-2011-2012-safety-report-1.2649154>.

Hirsch, Kathleen (1990)”Fraternities of Fear: Gang Rape, Male Bonding, and the

Silencing of Women.” Ms., 1(2) 52-56.

"History of Take Back the Night." Take Back The Night. TBTN Foundation. Web. 16

Feb. 2012. <http://www.takebackthenight.org/history.html>.

Kirk, Gwyn, and Okazawa-Rey, Margo. "Violence Against Women." Women's Lives:

Multicultural Perspectives. 5th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2010. 257-73.

Print.

Quintero, Kelly. "NOW UCF Campus Action Network." Facebook. 13 Feb. 2012. Web.

17 Feb. 2012. <http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/2203630646/>.

Smith, J.C. "UCF Police Department Releases 2011-2012 Safety Report - News."