Participants gathered for Sacramento State’s 11th annual “Take Back the Night” rally Monday evening in support of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

The event featured speaker Sabrina Sadler, Sac State alumni and sexual assault survivor, who told her story to approximately 30 audience members.

Following an introduction by Jessica Heskin, victim advocate for Violence and Sexual Assault Support Services, Sadler recounted her experience of a celebratory evening of drinking and clubbing gone wrong.

She said she and her best friend began to pre-drink before going to a club where they got invited to the VIP area.

“From there I was already feeling good…I felt tipsy,” Sadler said. “I told my friend that I needed the lighter drink of the two. From that point on, I don’t remember anything.”

Later that night, Sadler said she was found several miles away from the club in a planter’s box with a beaten face and naked from the waist down – unaware of what had happened to her.

After being taken to the hospital and realizing she had been sexually assaulted, Sadler said she felt she had to educate herself.

“I did some research and found out that one in five women are sexually assaulted on college campus,” Sadler said.

Sadler told the audience everyone has a role in preventing sexual violence and emphasized the importance of supporting sexual assault victims and getting involved in spreading awareness.

Following Sadler’s speech, chanting participants led a march from the library quad to the residence halls and back holding posters bearing messages like, “97 percent of rapists will not spend a day in jail,” and “Let’s take back the night.”

The event was sponsored by the international organization “No woman left behind,” which began at Sac State.

Heskin said the organization’s goal is to end violence against women on campus.

“It is really important that we stand up and say we are really sick of sexual assault happening on campus,” Heskin said.

Heskin said she assists sexually assaulted individuals in their transition from victim to survivor. She has been Sadler’s victim advocate during this process.

Sophomore speech pathology major Lusine Muradyan said she is a part of the student health advisory committee and heard about the event during a meeting.

“I came here supporting a good cause…hearing her story is definitely life-changing,” Muradyan said.

Muradyan said the event helped her to understand how to prevent sexual assault in the future.

“If I see any awkward situations I’ll know how to prevent it,” she said. “I’ll know how to respond to somebody if they do come and tell me they were sexually assaulted.”

Taking steps toward preventing sexual violence is one idea Sadler emphasized.

“It is important to bring that awareness to the community,” Sadler said. “Oftentimes, especially in my experience, I never thought it would happen to me. We often wait until it does…we have to get involved before that.”

Alex Slavas can be reached at [email protected].