The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is joining a nationwide effort to raise awareness of sexual violence and human trafficking by hosting its first “Take Back the Night” event on Wednesday, April 18. 

The event will take place from 6-8 p.m. in Donaghey Student Center Ledbetter Hall. It will feature a community fair of organizations and agencies who provide services and resources and advocate for victims of sexual assault and human trafficking. The event will end at 8 p.m. with a candlelit vigil and march across campus to show support for those affected by sexual violence.

“April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, so we are partnering with PATH (Partners Against Trafficking Humans) to hold this educational fundraising event to bring awareness of sexual assault to our students and our community,” said Dr. Tusty ten Bensel, graduate coordinator in the Department of Criminal Justice.

The UA Little Rock Department of Criminal Justice is working with PATH, which provides housing, transportation, education, counseling, and additional resources for human trafficking victims. Proceeds from the event will help victims of sexual trafficking in Arkansas and student development scholarships for criminal justice students.

One in four women and one in six to eight men will experience sexual violence in their lifetimes. College-aged women (18-24) are three times more likely to be victims of sexual violence, according to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN).

“Sexual violence is one of my main areas of research. Helping victims of sexual assault is very dear to my heart,” ten Bensel said. “There has been a huge call across the nation to prevent sexual assault on college campuses and in our communities.

“I want people to know that if something like this happens to you or someone you know, you should seek help. I think victims often feel so stigmatized that they don’t reach out for assistance. The more we avoid talking about sexual assault happening in our communities, the less likely we are to prevent it from happening in the future. We need to have an open dialogue to make effective changes in the future.”

Event sponsors include Plunge Digital, FC Data Services, and Candlewood Suites of Hot Springs, ten Bensel, LLC, Compass, Laura’s Draperies and Blinds, and ADS Data Direct Inc. Donations can be made in any amount, while sponsorships begin at $250. For more information, contact ten Bensel at ixzohra@ualr.edu.