Creighton’s Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) Center hosted its annual Take Back the Night event on Thursday, April 3. The theme for this year’s event was “Be the Light” and encouraged students, faculty and community members to speak out against and bring awareness to violence.  

The evening began with a performance by Destruction Drill Team, following those who participated in the march from Morrison Stadium into Skutt to raise awareness throughout Creighton’s campus. The drill team performed a series of cadences accompanied by dancers.  

After the evening’s lively introduction by the drill team, there was tabling from numerous clubs and organizations on campus, including the Eileen B. Lieben Center for Women, the VIP Center, the Student Counseling Center and others.   

The event’s conclusion began with the announcement of the recipients of the Dr. Tanya Winegard Exemplary Advocate of the Year Award. The award was named for the late Tanya Winegard, Ph.D., who was extremely influential on Creighton’s campus through her work involving Title IX and relationship violence awareness. Her memorial award recognizes students and faculty who have demonstrated exemplary advocacy.  

This year’s award recipients were Sangeetha Kumar, the assistant director of student care and outreach in Student Counseling Services and Cleo Zagurski, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences and the relationship violence team manager in the VIP Center.   

When asked about their awards, Zagurski and Kumar expressed gratitude and just how much this award meant to them.   

“[Receiving this award] is so humbling. Dr. Tanya Winegard was truly a change maker, not only on Creighton’s campus but [in] Omaha at large. … I really look up to the work that she did. … It is just so exciting and humbling and wonderful,” Zagurski said. 

Kumar shared a similar sentiment. 

“Oh my gosh. How much time do you have? Everything. This is everything. This means so much to me,” Kumar said. “Knowing Dr. Winegard and all that she did … I mean, she helped get Title IX on our campus. So, just having an award in her honor goes straight to my heart. … It’s not just a name; she was a friend. … It really is about the survivors and the people, and it means a lot to me, because not only does it acknowledge my work that I do…but it’s the students’ bravery [that won this award]. I wouldn’t have a job without them coming forward and telling me their stories, whether it’s about mental health, whether it’s about assault or violence or…anything that they’re facing.”  

After the awards, there was an open mic session where students, faculty and audience members were invited to share their stories and feel supported and loved by the audience.  

After the open mic session, there was a performance of the song “Rise Up” that uplifted the audience and made the experience more comforting for everyone involved.  

The evening concluded with Miss Kansas 2024, Alexis Smith, as the keynote speaker. She shared her own story relating to the topics of the night and how it led her to become an advocate against domestic violence.   

Junior Bella Hoke, the peer education manager in the VIP Center for the Sexual Violence team, said that the night was important because “it’s important to talk about things, and if we talk about it, it can become more normalized,” and that “it’s really beautiful how everyone can come together and…share their stories in such a safe space.”  

Sarika Griffin, the assistant director of the VIP Center, said that she hopes students gain an “understanding that they’re not alone [and] that they’re able to speak up as people around campus. … Please come out, share your story [and] talk to us. … Let us provide you resources and support you through everything that you may need.”  

For Zagurski, this event is important, because “for me, as a survivor, a night like this just shows me that I’m not alone—that other people have very similar experiences, and we can all come together to support one another and truly heal.”