A river of 400 candles flowed from the Loyola Horseshoe down Broadway Street to the Myra Clare Rogers Memorial Chapel at Tulane Wednesday night. The first candle was lit in memory of Tulane student Leanne Joy Knot who was raped and murdered in 1997.

The candles were part of the 14th annual Take Back the Night march against sexual violence, sponsored by Loyola and Tulane.

According to Natalie Morgan, drama sophomore, the candles spread light where darkness lies.

Every 15 seconds a woman is beaten, according to the United Nations Study on the Status of Women. In recognition of each woman, a chime rang every 15 seconds, a total of 280 times at the event.

One of the main goals of the march is to heighten awareness, Susanne Dietzel, director of the Women’s Resource Center said.

“Women have the right to walk undisturbed at night,” Dietzel said. “The march is a healing ceremony and a form of empowerment.”

The ceremony started with a blessing of the march, a poetry reading and a musical performance.

The featured speaker, a student who preferred not to be identified, shared her story of being raped at the age of 14.

The student remained silent for four years and wasn’t sure that having been raped wasn’t her fault. She said she wished for memory loss the following day and thought that because she couldn’t believe what had happened, no one else would.

No longer silent, she has moved from being a victim to being a survivor.

“Being raped does not define you,” she said. “I’m not afraid to be myself.”