Take back the night!

Hundreds of students attended an event held by Niagara University April 7 in conjunction with the Take Back the Night national movement, which aims to end sexual, relationship, and domestic violence in all forms.

Partnering with local and national organizations to effect change is part of the systemic change approach adopted by the Vincentian Family. University students who share the concerns of the wider community can often marshal the necessary people power to bring attention to local problems that, many times, would go unaddressed. Far too often, these problems — in this case violence against women, domestic violence, and a climate of fear — fall heavily upon the poorest of the poor: poor women and sexual minorities.

“Systemic Change among those living in poverty aims beyond providing food, clothing, shelter and alleviating immediate needs. It enables people themselves to engage in the identification of the root causes of their poverty and to create strategies, including advocacy, to change those structures which keep them in poverty. Systemic Change requires transforming attitudes.(see vinformation on systemic change)” Public witness and advocacy, in partnership with others who have a shared interest, can facilitate this kind of change.

“The Catholic and Vincentian mission of Niagara University calls on us to be the light for those who need our help, and this is another way we are able to do that,” said the Rev. James J. Maher, C.M., president of Niagara University. “We are committed to fostering an educational environment that focuses on the dignity of all people in our community. I’m very grateful to the students, faculty, staff, and administrators who have invested themselves in this cause to effect change.”

Read the full Niagara University News article here, and have a look at their Flicker album of the event.

#DanielleisVincent. So are the rest of these committed students, faculty and staff.