On Thursday, November 20, the lights in De Witt Hall dimmed as Lasell University hosted its annual Take Back the Night event. The evening was an opportunity for six survivors of dating and domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking to share their stories and be supported by peers and fellow community members. It was a moving night as survivors were able to tell their stories free of judgment and be heard by students, faculty, and community members.
This event is not new to Lasell, but this year it looked a little different due to extra funding from a government grant. This funding, however, was not available until four days prior to the event due to the recent government shutdown. However, Project LASER (Lasell Assault and Abuse Services and Education Response) still made it work.
“In years past, we’ve never had decorations, we’ve never been able to do crafts at the same time, and now we’re able to do that, and that’s all additional grounding for our students,” project director Haley Sherman said. This support was certainly present throughout the night, and every attendee found a pile of grounding tools on their seat to keep them calm during the event. There was an emphasis on feeling grounded and present during the night rather than escaping the uncomfortableness of the stories being shared.
This emphasis on discomfort became a significant theme of the night and encouraged attendees to listen and try to understand the stories being shared with them. Project LASER wanted this to be the message of the night, and wanted the audience to truly hear the survivors and the experiences they have been through.
“Survivors need to be heard. Everyone is so brave to share their stories, and I think everyone should at least come once in their years at Lasell,” senior Jordan Willis, one of Sherman’s interns, expressed about the event. The audience, thankfully, understood this, and each survivor was greeted with snapping fingers, an act that is meant to quietly support the speaker and show that the audience was present and listening.
The event was also supported by Tarnished Magazine, which provided coloring sheets in the Glow Lounge to provide a relaxing break for any attendees who needed it. There was also a table set up as a memorial to three transgender individuals who lost their lives due to domestic violence.
The event aligned with the Transgender Day of Remembrance, and it was a touching way to honor those who have been lost.
When asked what is wanted from the community after this event, Project LASER members emphasized the importance of listening to survivors and recognizing that anyone could be going through the experiences described.
“A lot of people have the same image of a 30-year-old white woman who is low-income, and we know that is not the reality,” Sherman emphasized. “Every single person, despite any demographic feature, can be a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.”
Take Back the Night was a powerful evening full of moving stories and support from the community. It was a strong reminder that violence can happen anywhere and to anyone, and it strived to break down stereotypes of what assault, violence, or stalking looks like.
–Dec. 8, 2025–
