DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Take Back the Night newspaper editorials and articles, 1982 | Letters to the Editor regarding Take Back The Night Rally

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Take Back the Night newspaper editorials and articles, 1982

Letters to the Editor regarding Take Back The Night Rally

Rally was sexist
To the editor: 
I went to the Women Take Back the Night rally with a women friend and my boyfriend. They refused to allow us entrance because he was with us. 
He is very concerned about this issue, and wants to become more aware of it and help any way he can. We were told by the women guards that " he could be a rapist of one of the women attending." In trying to "talk us out" of attending, they used militaristic tactics and terror techniques: shining flashlights in the face, and placing themselves between us and the crowd and forcing us to walk backwards. 
When they say " take back the night" they apparently mean to rip it out of men's hands by force. If they were really interested in protecting women, they should have rented a private hall and positioned people at the door to ensure that only women entered: not guards with armbands and flashlights, preventing entrance to a public park. The attitudes shown last night by the guards were the same ones these women supposedly decry in men. 
I am outraged that women in Iowa City can be this insensitive. I myself have been raped twice (once in Iowa City). I learned then that fear of men is something that is triggered by an outside action, but is developed from within. A man can cause me to be afraid, but it is up to me whether I remain that way. 
The " women only" support will not help nearly as much as professional counselling, along with support from both men and women. Concerned men need to be informed by these women: the best way to do this is by attending support rallies such as this one claimed to be. 
Funding for this group should be removed in view of its sexist policies - let them raise money themselves. 
Meanwhile perhaps a group will form in Iowa City that can be funded by the Student Senate, that will publicly address the problem in a non-sexist manner. 
Maria Simonsen

Rally's lesson 
To the editor:
Tess Catalano and the organizers of " Women Take Back the NIght" should learn from what happened this year. Next time there should be more publicity of the event and of their desire to exclude male participation. Some letters in The Daily Iowan or maybe even a Guest Opinion would inform the public adequately. 
If this were done a week in advance, it would give the DI editors and other journalists a chance to plan coverage. This year's event " surprised" editors, who were "forced" to send Tim Severa because female reporters were " out of town or tied up on other assignments."
Next time we'll know what the editors are insensitive to women's issues rather than just uninformed 
Christine Stansbrough
125 River St. 

Rally inappropriate
To the editor: 
The separatist focus of the Take Back the Night rally does little to illuminate the issue of violence in our society and may do a disservice in obscuring it. 
Women do not have a franchise on victimization; violent deaths are epidemic among young men and a leading cause of death among black men between the ages of 17 and 25. The statistics for violent deaths among white middle class college women would compare favorably, we would guess. 
Women mention feelings of " power" (DI Oct. 25). If the charges filed bear out, it would appear the "power" is similar to that of gang-rapists, the power to intimidate and dominate by force of numbers. Ridding society of violence through violence is a bit of double think that ought to prepare these people well for an Orwellian future. Is this "consciousness raising?"
But the muddled thinking and bunker mentality displayed by the organizers are not so disturbing as their perceived right to " Take Back the Night" and " the park which is rightfully ours," as Sandi Wisenberg writes. It is out understanding that parks are public. The type of genitalia with which one is endowed has at no other period of time been criteria for admittance. 
If this had been any other group excluding their adversaries forcibly they would have been arrested to the applause of the general public. There are more responsible and effective means to focus attention on our community's rape problem and many other legitimate feminist issues. 
If these women wish to have a private, exclusive cofab let them have it in a private, exclusive locale. Their rally did nothing to improve the human condition, and appears to have encouraged the notion that aggression and violence are appropriate methods of acquiring that which one desires. 
Gary D. Smith 
Sarah C. Swisher

Civil Rights 
To the editor:
Although I would not be so illogical as to conclude that the militant actions of a few at the Women Take back the Night rally were indicative of the mentality of every women present. I believe all of the women attending must share responsibility for knowingly supporting a rally that denied basic human rights to men. Parks are public places, and to deny men access to such places is unjust.
I agree that violence against women is appaling and that women need to discuss this issue amongst themselves, but the civilized solution would have been to rent or reserve other facilities and refrain from using public property for this purpose. 
Injustice is not alleviated by further injustice. Perhaps it will seem absurd to some to equate violence against women with the exclusion of men from a park, but both involve infringement on basic liberty. The essence of the Civil Rights movement was to ensure that no individual would be denied equal treatment and equal access to public places. Any other action, as typified by this rally, should never be condoned.
Kristina McNeish
425 Hawkeye Ct. 

They can have it 
To the editor: 
Men take back the right! The right to be a forthright upstanding citizen without fear of persecution from women. Women who are narrow-minded reactionaries who wave the accusing finger at all men. 
I couldn't believe the ignorance displayed by the group of females ( I can't call them ladies) in College Green Park. They ganged-up on and then assaulted Tim Severa, then abridged his right to be in a public place. A typical case of turning the Christians loose on the Moslems. 
Instead of protesting the worthless thugs who often prey on innocent women, they themselves were the thugs. I can just imagine them working into fervor, then marching down the street. All the way chanting some convoluted phrase about taking back the night. They can have it. But I demand the right. 
Eric Fleming 
308 
Myrtle Ave. 

DOONESBURY BY Garry Trudeau

OKAY, PICTURE THIS, KID.. THIS HAPPENED TO ME ONCE.. IT;S TOP OF THE NINTH, TWO DOWN, MAN ON FIRST! YOU GOT TWO STRIKES

RICK WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO IF HE HATES BASEBALL?
WELL.. UH THAT WOULD BE OKAY I WON'T PUSH HIM INTO IT. IT ISN'T THAT IMPORTANT TO ME..

WHAT AM I SAYING ? BASEBALL'S MY LIFE! YOU BETTER LIKE BASEBALL! IF YOU DON'T I'LL BE VERY VERY DISAPPOINTED IN YOU!! DO YOU HEAR ME KID?

I'M GLAD YOU'RE GETTING THIS OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM NOE , RICK. 
WHAT'D YOU SAY...GOLF? WHAT ARE YOU A WIMP?

Letters Policy 

Letters to the editor must be typed and must be signed. Unsigned or untyped letters will not be considered for publication. Letters should include the writer's telephone number, which will not be published and address, which will be withheld upon request. Letters should be brief and The Daily Iowan reserves the right to edit for length and clarity.

Saving...

Rally was sexist To the editor: I went to the Women Take Back the Night rally with a women friend and my boyfriend. They refused to allow us entrance because he was with us. He is very concerned about this issue, and wants to become more aware of it and help any way he can. We were told by the women guards that " he could be a rapist of one of the women attending." In trying to "talk us out" of attending, they used militaristic tactics and terror techniques: shining flashlights in the face, and placing themselves between us and the crowd and forcing us to walk backwards. When they say " take back the night" they apparently mean to rip it out of men's hands by force. If they were really interested in protecting women, they should have rented a private hall and positioned people at the door to ensure that only women entered: not guards with armbands and flashlights, preventing entrance to a public park. The attitudes shown last night by the guards were the same ones these women supposedly decry in men. I am outraged that women in Iowa City can be this insensitive. I myself have been raped twice (once in Iowa City). I learned then that fear of men is something that is triggered by an outside action, but is developed from within. A man can cause me to be afraid, but it is up to me whether I remain that way. The " women only" support will not help nearly as much as professional counselling, along with support from both men and women. Concerned men need to be informed by these women: the best way to do this is by attending support rallies such as this one claimed to be. Funding for this group should be removed in view of its sexist policies - let them raise money themselves. Meanwhile perhaps a group will form in Iowa City that can be funded by the Student Senate, that will publicly address the problem in a non-sexist manner. Maria Simonsen Rally's lesson To the editor: Tess Catalano and the organizers of " Women Take Back the NIght" should learn from what happened this year. Next time there should be more publicity of the event and of their desire to exclude male participation. Some letters in The Daily Iowan or maybe even a Guest Opinion would inform the public adequately. If this were done a week in advance, it would give the DI editors and other journalists a chance to plan coverage. This year's event " surprised" editors, who were "forced" to send Tim Severa because female reporters were " out of town or tied up on other assignments." Next time we'll know what the editors are insensitive to women's issues rather than just uninformed Christine Stansbrough 125 River St. Rally inappropriate To the editor: The separatist focus of the Take Back the Night rally does little to illuminate the issue of violence in our society and may do a disservice in obscuring it. Women do not have a franchise on victimization; violent deaths are epidemic among young men and a leading cause of death among black men between the ages of 17 and 25. The statistics for violent deaths among white middle class college women would compare favorably, we would guess. Women mention feelings of " power" (DI Oct. 25). If the charges filed bear out, it would appear the "power" is similar to that of gang-rapists, the power to intimidate and dominate by force of numbers. Ridding society of violence through violence is a bit of double think that ought to prepare these people well for an Orwellian future. Is this "consciousness raising?" But the muddled thinking and bunker mentality displayed by the organizers are not so disturbing as their perceived right to " Take Back the Night" and " the park which is rightfully ours," as Sandi Wisenberg writes. It is out understanding that parks are public. The type of genitalia with which one is endowed has at no other period of time been criteria for admittance. If this had been any other group excluding their adversaries forcibly they would have been arrested to the applause of the general public. There are more responsible and effective means to focus attention on our community's rape problem and many other legitimate feminist issues. If these women wish to have a private, exclusive cofab let them have it in a private, exclusive locale. Their rally did nothing to improve the human condition, and appears to have encouraged the notion that aggression and violence are appropriate methods of acquiring that which one desires. Gary D. Smith Sarah C. Swisher Civil Rights To the editor: Although I would not be so illogical as to conclude that the militant actions of a few at the Women Take back the Night rally were indicative of the mentality of every women present. I believe all of the women attending must share responsibility for knowingly supporting a rally that denied basic human rights to men. Parks are public places, and to deny men access to such places is unjust. I agree that violence against women is appaling and that women need to discuss this issue amongst themselves, but the civilized solution would have been to rent or reserve other facilities and refrain from using public property for this purpose. Injustice is not alleviated by further injustice. Perhaps it will seem absurd to some to equate violence against women with the exclusion of men from a park, but both involve infringement on basic liberty. The essence of the Civil Rights movement was to ensure that no individual would be denied equal treatment and equal access to public places. Any other action, as typified by this rally, should never be condoned. Kristina McNeish 425 Hawkeye Ct. They can have it To the editor: Men take back the right! The right to be a forthright upstanding citizen without fear of persecution from women. Women who are narrow-minded reactionaries who wave the accusing finger at all men. I couldn't believe the ignorance displayed by the group of females ( I can't call them ladies) in College Green Park. They ganged-up on and then assaulted Tim Severa, then abridged his right to be in a public place. A typical case of turning the Christians loose on the Moslems. Instead of protesting the worthless thugs who often prey on innocent women, they themselves were the thugs. I can just imagine them working into fervor, then marching down the street. All the way chanting some convoluted phrase about taking back the night. They can have it. But I demand the right. Eric Fleming 308 Myrtle Ave. DOONESBURY BY Garry Trudeau OKAY, PICTURE THIS, KID.. THIS HAPPENED TO ME ONCE.. IT;S TOP OF THE NINTH, TWO DOWN, MAN ON FIRST! YOU GOT TWO STRIKES RICK WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO IF HE HATES BASEBALL? WELL.. UH THAT WOULD BE OKAY I WON'T PUSH HIM INTO IT. IT ISN'T THAT IMPORTANT TO ME.. WHAT AM I SAYING ? BASEBALL'S MY LIFE! YOU BETTER LIKE BASEBALL! IF YOU DON'T I'LL BE VERY VERY DISAPPOINTED IN YOU!! DO YOU HEAR ME KID? I'M GLAD YOU'RE GETTING THIS OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM NOE , RICK. WHAT'D YOU SAY...GOLF? WHAT ARE YOU A WIMP? Letters Policy Letters to the editor must be typed and must be signed. Unsigned or untyped letters will not be considered for publication. Letters should include the writer's telephone number, which will not be published and address, which will be withheld upon request. Letters should be brief and The Daily Iowan reserves the right to edit for length and clarity.