UM-Flint to "Take Back the Night" in support of sexual assault survivors and awareness, April 9

Each April, the University of Michigan-Flint community joins a national movement to raise awareness of sexual violence and support survivors during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This year's SAAM events will focus on reclaiming safety, connection and empowerment, highlighted by the university's annual Take Back the Night rally and march at 6 p.m., April 9.

Take Back the Night is a long-standing international tradition dedicated to ending sexual, relationship and domestic violence in all forms. The UM-Flint event begins with a rally centered on survivor voices and a march through downtown Flint, then returns to campus for a keynote address on how new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, are reshaping relationships and safety. The rally will begin on the first floor of the Harding Mott University Center at 6 p.m. The event invites students, faculty, staff and community members to stand together in support of all impacted by gender-based violence.

"Take Back the Night is about reclaiming power in a world where too many people have had their sense of safety taken from them," said CJ Karow, advocacy and outreach coordinator. "It's a space where survivors are seen, believed, and supported—and where our community comes together to say that sexual violence will not be tolerated. This event is both a moment of healing and a call to action. It reminds us that prevention is possible, but only if we are all willing to be part of the change."

Reece Gammicchia is a junior data analytics and sociology major and peer educator from Flint.

"Take Back the Night allows survivors to seize the night that was taken from them, giving them the space to feel empowered. Seeing all my fellow peers, community members and survivors advocate for each other helps me feel hope and better healed," Gammicchia said.

This year's program will feature a keynote address from Sloan Thompson, director of training and education at EndTAB and a nationally recognized speaker on how technology is reshaping relationships and safety. Thompson will examine how emerging tools such as AI chatbots and generative image platforms are influencing dating, communication and consent, and what that means for students in their day-to-day lives. 

Earlier that day, she will lead "Consent in the Age of AI," a Lunch and Learn event from 12:30–1:30 p.m. in 115 UCEN, offering students an opportunity to explore digital ethics, healthy boundaries and strategies for navigating intimacy in an increasingly online world.

As a former violence prevention coordinator at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Thompson combines research and advocacy to help students navigate intimacy and digital ethics.

Building Awareness, One Duck at a Time

Additionally, the Center for Gender and Sexuality has launched a campus campaign featuring more than 400 rubber ducks placed throughout the university. Each duck is a reminder of the prevalence of sexual violence in college communities and the importance of collective action in prevention.

"When we place 400 ducks across campus, we're helping make visible what often goes unseen," said Samara Hough, CGS director. "So often survivors experiences are not validated. Events like these continue to shine a light on the reality of our experience and also cultivate hopefulness regarding a future without violence in our communities."

Madox Peterson, a senior sociology major and peer educator from Elgin, South Carolina, said the event plays a vital role in breaking the silence and fostering community. "It creates a powerful space to amplify the voices of survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence," they said. "As someone who wants to be a victim advocate after graduating, this event fuels my passion to stand with survivors and work toward a world where no one has to endure what I and so many others have survived."

SAAM Events at UM-Flint

Women Talk Wednesday: Denim Decorating
1:45–2:30 p.m., April 1, Center for Gender and Sexuality (213 UCEN)

Stalking in Media: When Movies Romanticize Red Flags
3:30–5 p.m., April 1, 213 UCEN
Peer educators lead a discussion on how films and media normalize stalking and unhealthy behaviors, with opportunities to identify "red flags" and discuss real-life impact. Dinner provided; pre-registration encouraged.

Dorm-Discussion-Dinner: Navigating the Legal System
3:30–5 p.m., April 2,  First Street Residence Hall Multipurpose Room
A peer-led conversation on understanding the legal process related to sexual and domestic violence, including rights, options and campus and community support. Refreshments provided; pre-registration suggested.

Sexual Assault and Navigating the Legal System Panel
3:30–5 p.m., April 8, Alvin Loving Sr. Cultural Lounge (second floor UCEN)
Panel discussion offering practical insight into how the legal system works, common challenges and how institutions can better support survivors, advocates and allies.

Lunch and Learn: Consent in the Age of AI with Sloan Thompson
12:30–1:30 p.m., April 9, Intercultural Center (115 UCEN)
Thompson explores how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are reshaping relationships, consent and digital ethics. Lunch provided; open to all.

Take Back the Night Rally and March
6–7 p.m., April 9
Annual march through downtown Flint, followed by a program centered on survivors of gender-based violence, featuring keynote speaker Thompson. The event is open to all, regardless of gender identity.

To learn more about Take Back the Night and UM-Flint's Sexual Assault Awareness Month programming, visit the CGS webpage or follow them on social media for updates.