By HOLLY WEILEDER

Staff Writer

Many campus organizations get involved by putting together events to better the community.

The Association of Women Students has put together a sub-committee titled "Take Back the Night," as part of their attempt to better the community.

Michelle Pride, the faculty adviser for the AWS, encourages the community to take part.

"We want it to be completely inclusive - a total community effort," Pride said. "I believe the only way to end violence is for everyone to get involved. We want to make the night safer for everyone, which means not only the women in our community."

Every female undergraduate student is a member of the AWS because of the quarterly fifty cents that is assessed. The AWS meets once a month, and any female student is welcome to attend.

April has been dedicated by AWS to the survivors of rape, with a calendar of events.

Every Friday in April is black T-shirt Friday, in order to show support for survivors of these crimes.

A movie night was held Tuesday at the Tolliver Multicultural/International Student Lounge which was a documentary that featured survivor stories of rape victims and educational clips that clarified common myths about rape.

After the movie, there was a community discussion about it. AWS did this to create a safe place to have an open dialogue about these issues in our community.

Men are encouraged to get involved as well. Many fraternities and other organizations with large numbers of male members are helping out by volunteering and showing their support.

In 2002, one in every eight rape victims was male.

Although not their first event, this is AWS' first event they have fully sponsored alone.

"This is obviously a great event that needed to be brought to Tech," Corrine Barnickel, co-chair of the TBTN committee and junior family and child studies major, said. "Other universities already have these programs and the community of Ruston needs to know that domestic violence does exist, it is real."

Other events included in TBTN are 6 p.m. Tuesday, in Room 222 of the Student Center. AWS will host "Survivors' Stories: A Dating Violence and Sexual Assault Panel Presentation."

At 6 p.m. April 18, there will be a self-defense workshop at the Maxie Lambright Intramural Sports Center.

To wrap up the TBTN events, there will be a rally, march and vigil at 7 p.m. in the Quadrangle.

"The march will start at 'The Lady of the Mist' and we will march to Railroad Park," Barnickel said. "It isn't only AWS, but the campus sororities and fraternities are getting involved. The fraternities are handing out brochures for us. It is really great how everyone is getting involved."

There are buttons, posters, and cards showing support for this program available in the L-Booth located across from the bulldog in the Student Center. There will also be T-shirts for sale.

For more information about AWS or Take Back the Night, contact Pride at 257-2488 or visit the Counseling Services Office located in Keeny Hall, Room 310.