Week of Peace, Hope and Justice winds down.
By Faith Lynn
Assistant Photo Editor
The Feminist Forum has been able to take an active role in Pepperdine’s student life this year. After a semester of inactivity, the Forum has taken a decisive step in reaching out to students by sponsoring this year’s “Take Back the Night” celebration, junior Tiffany Laine-Calhoun said.
“Take Back the Night” will take place Thursday night in the Fouch Amphitheatre, and will feature speeches and entertainment from Pepperdine students and community figures speaking out against rape and domestic violence.
The second annual celebration of its kind, “Take Back the Night” enjoyed a large turnout last year and the Feminist Forum, in their first year of hosting the event, hopes to duplicate that performance.
Laine-Calhoun said she believes “Take Back the Night” is a very important event, especially in relation to the overall theme of Peace, Hope and Justice Week.
“I personally want to educate Pepperdine students about what a serious issue rape and domestic violence is. I think that’s the moral of Peace, Hope and Justice Week — to remind Pepperdine students that they have the power to change.”
The week-long celebration is being held “to raise awareness about worldwide human injustices and how students and faculty can effect change.”
Among the events being held are a special Convocation address by William Schulz, the executive director of Amnesty Inter-national USA, and training sessions with the California Public Interest Group.
The training sessions will aim to teach students how to run campaigns and work effectively with groups toward a common goal.
Laine-Calhoun said Peace, Hope and Justice Week is a great way to connect to the student body and educate the students about what is going on in the world outside the university. She said she thinks the week will be a very exciting and impacting experience for all involved.
Included in “Take Back the Night” will be a Pepperdine student, Britnee Stanton, who has written articles for “CosmoGirl” and has been featured on the Ananda Lewis Show on television.
She will give a speech on her experience with domestic violence.
Choir members Jennifer Childress and Amber Mercomb will perform for the event.
A candlelight vigil will also take place, which Laine-Calhoun said she thinks will be the most affecting part of the evening.
The vigil is meant to honor all those who have been affected by rape and domestic violence.
Laine-Calhoun said she is really driven by the prospect of educating the student body about the scope of the problem of rape and domestic violence.
“Education is my main focus for ‘Take Back the Night’, because I believe to get people aware you must educate them,” she said.
Laine-Calhoun said she got involved in the Feminist Forum because it offered her a way to make a difference in the community and have an impact on the world around her.
She said she enjoys being involved and having the opportunity to speak out for what she believes in.
“I need a place where I can educate men and women and a place where people can go to get information.”
January 23, 2003