Students marched throughout the streets of campus Wednesday protesting against violence.
A group predominantly made up of Feminist for Action and Spectrum members with signs labeled, "End the silence, end the violence" and "No means no" received mixed reactions from onlookers.
Some honked and screamed. Others chanted with the group as they passed by. The marchers also heard shouts of students from LaFollette Complex telling them to be quiet.
This did not deter the group from its chanting or objective.
Junior Joy Grow, a member of Spectrum, said she thought the reaction was positive.
"A lot of people saw what was going on," Grow said. "We made ourselves visible. People will go home and wonder what we were here for, and that is success to me."
The march was a joint effort on the part of Feminists for Action and Spectrum. Wednesday was National Day of Silence, observed by Spectrum. The day was used to protest sexuality-based violence and to remember those who have been affected by it.
It was also a march against domestic violence, child abuse, rape, homicide and the like.
For some, the issue hit closer to home than others.
Freshman Phil Davis has been an activist and feminist since the age of 14. His mother was a victim of physical and verbal abuse.
"This is a personal issue for me," Davis said.
Freshman Anita Brown, an ally for Spectrum, said getting the word out about violence was her objective.
"We need to let people know not to hate people," Brown said. "That should be natural. When someone says 'no,' they mean it."
Michele Macon-Cole of the Victim's Advocate Program of Muncie spoke with the group prior to the march, informing the students about the importance of the march.
"More women are coming forward about sexual assault," Macon-Cole said. "It's a great movement on campus."
The march stemmed from a larger "Take Back the Night" march, which is historically a march for women, Liz Greene of Feminists for Action said.
"We wanted to get men involved," Greene said.
Cheyenne Ritz of Feminists for Action said she was pleased with the turnout.
"We are loud and we are making an impact," Ritz said. "I would have liked more people, but it went great."
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