DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Take Back the Night newspaper editorials and articles, 1982 | 1982-10-22 Daily Iowan Article: "Take Back the Night coordinators can't bar men, press, says Berlin"

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Take Back the Night newspaper editorials and articles, 1982

1982-10-22 Daily Iowan Article: "Take Back the Night coordinators can't bar men, press, says Berlin"

Page 4A - The Daily Iowan - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 22 1982 

University

Take Back the Night coordinators can't bar men, press, says Berlin

By Scott Sonner
Assistant Metro Editor

Men may not be welcome at the Take Back the Night rally in College Hill Park Saturday, but no one can keep them from attending, Iowa City officials said Thursday. 
Representatives of the group sponsoring the 7:30 p.m. rally refused to comment Thursday on reports that men and the press will be barred from the park. They said the situation will be explained at a press conference prior to the event 
But City Manager Neal Berlin said Thursday the group cannot keep certain people from participating. 
The rally is planned as a "speak-out" to give women an opportunity to offer their experiences and feelings about violence in their lives. 
During a similar event in September 1979, problems developed when people were confronted at the edge of the park and asked not to enter, Berlin said. 
A permit for use of the park was issued to the group under the condition that the same problems would not occur this time, he said. 
IN A LETTER dated Oct. 4, Berlin told organizer Tess Catalano: " As we discussed while you use College Hill Park for your rally, the park must be open for people traversing through the park and members of the public, whether male or female, cannot be confronted by individuals attempting to exclude them from the park."
Iowa City Police Chief Harvey Miller said he knows the event " is going on, but that's about it."
All people will be allowed to enter the park Saturday night, he said. " It's a public place. There's no fence around it.
" There might be some interesting ramifications if they try and stop people, but I don't know if they will. We'll just have to wait and see."
A rally representative told The Daily Iowan, although the group id aware they can not keep people from attending, they are asking men to stay away from the park Saturday night."
A letter to the DI from Carol Wolvington for the Ad Hoc Committee to Take Back the Night said: "...We are not keeping anyone from attending TBTN: we are trying to provide a badly-needed safe space for women to speak out about rape and other abuse from men and part of creating that safe space is asking men to take a secondary role, meeting with each other about the isssues elsewhere..."

MEMBERS OF New Wave, a UI political group are encouraging men to attend a meeting at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, in the Wisconsin Room of the Union. 
Victor Ramirez, UI Student Senate vice president, said Thursday afternoon he was told men are " allowed to attend but can't be part of (the rally)."
Because the senate allocated $527 to support the event, " this is something that would concern the senate," he said "We can't fund groups that are going to stop people from attending on the basis of sex"
He said he would talk with Catalano about the rally. 
Later Thursday, Ramirez said in talking with Catalano he became convinced " it is open to the public." He said men will be allowed to attend the rally adding " not that they are welcome."
When asked if that satisfies the senate, Ramirez said, " It satisfied me. I don't know what the rest of the senate think. 
" The issue is whether or not people can come. They can, but they are not wanted."

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Page 4A - The Daily Iowan - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 22 1982 University Take Back the Night coordinators can't bar men, press, says Berlin By Scott Sonner Assistant Metro Editor Men may not be welcome at the Take Back the Night rally in College Hill Park Saturday, but no one can keep them from attending, Iowa City officials said Thursday. Representatives of the group sponsoring the 7:30 p.m. rally refused to comment Thursday on reports that men and the press will be barred from the park. They said the situation will be explained at a press conference prior to the event But City Manager Neal Berlin said Thursday the group cannot keep certain people from participating. The rally is planned as a "speak-out" to give women an opportunity to offer their experiences and feelings about violence in their lives. During a similar event in September 1979, problems developed when people were confronted at the edge of the park and asked not to enter, Berlin said. A permit for use of the park was issued to the group under the condition that the same problems would not occur this time, he said. IN A LETTER dated Oct. 4, Berlin told organizer Tess Catalano: " As we discussed while you use College Hill Park for your rally, the park must be open for people traversing through the park and members of the public, whether male or female, cannot be confronted by individuals attempting to exclude them from the park." Iowa City Police Chief Harvey Miller said he knows the event " is going on, but that's about it." All people will be allowed to enter the park Saturday night, he said. " It's a public place. There's no fence around it. " There might be some interesting ramifications if they try and stop people, but I don't know if they will. We'll just have to wait and see." A rally representative told The Daily Iowan, although the group id aware they can not keep people from attending, they are asking men to stay away from the park Saturday night." A letter to the DI from Carol Wolvington for the Ad Hoc Committee to Take Back the Night said: "...We are not keeping anyone from attending TBTN: we are trying to provide a badly-needed safe space for women to speak out about rape and other abuse from men and part of creating that safe space is asking men to take a secondary role, meeting with each other about the isssues elsewhere..." MEMBERS OF New Wave, a UI political group are encouraging men to attend a meeting at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, in the Wisconsin Room of the Union. Victor Ramirez, UI Student Senate vice president, said Thursday afternoon he was told men are " allowed to attend but can't be part of (the rally)." Because the senate allocated $527 to support the event, " this is something that would concern the senate," he said "We can't fund groups that are going to stop people from attending on the basis of sex" He said he would talk with Catalano about the rally. Later Thursday, Ramirez said in talking with Catalano he became convinced " it is open to the public." He said men will be allowed to attend the rally adding " not that they are welcome." When asked if that satisfies the senate, Ramirez said, " It satisfied me. I don't know what the rest of the senate think. " The issue is whether or not people can come. They can, but they are not wanted."