NEWBERRY — On April 27, Newberry community members and Newberry College students joined together to stand up against sexual assault and abuse in Newberry County at the first “Take Back The Night” walk benefiting Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands.

Take Back The Night was organized by Professor Rebekah Dixon’s sport management and civic engagement class. These students prepared for Take Back The Night during the Spring 2017 semester.

More than 80 community members and Newberry College students walked a mile around the outside of the college’s campus to show their support for survivors of sexual assault and commitment to ending violence in their community.

During closing ceremonies, the class presented Sexual Trauma Services’ Executive Director Mary Dell Hayes a check for $2,700.

“We are thrilled to have had such a successful first-year event for survivors of sexual assault in Newberry,” said STSM Executive Director Mary Dell Hayes. “Sexual violence continues as an epidemic because it flourishes in silence, but the Newberry community is saying ‘NO MORE!’ and celebrating survivors.”

Take Back The Night was made possible by the generous support of community sponsors, which included Newberry Academy, Food Lion, Harvey’s Supermarket, Eight Acres Recycling, Lake Murray Utility Company, Anytime Fitness, Groucho’s, Pee Dee Outfitters, and The Grille on Main.

STSM thanks each sponsor for supporting STSM’s no-cost, trauma-focused services for survivors and violence prevention education effort throughout the year.

Sexual Trauma Services has a full-time office in downtown Newberry (1530 Main St., Suite 201) with a full-time licensed counselor providing crisis intervention and individual counseling to survivors of sexual assault and their loved ones.

Participants walking at Take Back The Night in support of survivors of sexual assault.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_IMG_6254.jpgParticipants walking at Take Back The Night in support of survivors of sexual assault. Courtesy photo

Staff Report