MHCC holds run to raise sexual assault awareness

MHCC held its first-ever glow-in-the-dark walk and 5k run at the college running track on Thursday, April 28.

Drawing 135 participants, the event was called Take Back the Night (TBTN) and started with Chris Gorsek, Oregon House representative and MHCC geography and forensic science instructor, speaking about why Mt. Hood was holding the event.

TBTN promotes the idea “that we should be safe, that we should live without fear of violence and that we should support each other,” according to Gorsek.

The event supports victims of sexual violence, with special attention to low-income communities. The TBTN website says one in three women and one and six men worldwide experience some form of sexual violence, and less than 50 percent of victims report these crimes.

Gorsek’s speech concluded, “We walk to celebrate them tonight, we walk to celebrate the steps we are taking to heal and support those who are healing. Just remember: No means no, and we will not stand for it, at all.”

Starting at 8 p.m., the first 150 people who had registered were able to receive free entry and glow-in-the-dark T shirts and wristbands; every person after that needed to pay $15 for admission.

Members from Associated Student Government (ASG) provided beverages and a glow stick for each lap a person ran.

“It was an amazing sight to see students unite for this cause and during the event, all I could think about was reaching the 13th lap,” said MHCC student Kristian Reyes.

ASG Vice President Lindsay Patiño said, “It was a lot of fun. I feel that it went really well. This was the first time that we have ever done that,  and hopefully we will do it next year as well.”

TBTN is a national organization that brings awareness to sexual violence, and its history goes back over half a century.

“We seek to end sexual assault, domestic violence through awareness events and initiatives. We seek to end sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual abuse and all other forms of sexual violence,” according to the group’s website. “No one should fear the night… or the day. Shatter the silence. Stop the Violence. The TBTN foundation serves to create safe communities and respectful relationships through awareness events and initiatives.”

MHCC held the event as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, “and to help reassure students on campus that we stand with them and we agree that sexual violence is not something that we should be dealing with today,” said Marisol Rodriguez, Public Safety and Campus Sustainability director for ASG.

“And we hear so much about students’ concerns with the parking lots not having enough security; we understand sexual violence is not something that we should be dealing with,” Rodriguez said.

Non-MHCC students, whether faculty or other community members, were the only ones fee money was collected from – about a half-dozen people. Proceeds went toward the T-shirts and any money generated from TBTN went to underprivileged communities and educational programing.

Rodriguez said that to prevent sexual violence, students at Mt. Hood need to be an advocate: Don’t stand for sexual violence – speak up if you know of any incidents, be a supporter, and believe someone if they come forward as a victim.

Advocate Staff