Temiloluwa Aboderin (she/her), president of Black Girls’ Space
2nd-year Materials Science and Engineering student
Temiloluwa Aboderin is the president of Black Girls’ Space, a society where students who ‘identify with black womanhood’ come together for community, focusing on career and personal development. She believes that Reclaim is important in getting the society members’ voices heard so that they can feel safer.
“Obviously being a society of black women, it’s important for us to ensure that we kind of make our voices heard in these types of spaces, especially because sexual-based violence is something that affects all of us".
Reclaim, for me, is just about taking back power… It’s about making sure that I’m able to have more autonomy over my ability to kind of move around in the world”.
Temiloluwa supports the three aims of the march – specifically noting how the 24-hour bus scheme would make her feel safer, and how it is important to include trans and nonbinary people in discussions on gender-based violence. She hopes that the university will “put their ears to the ground” and listen to the demands students are making.
“I think sometimes there can be a disconnect between what they think is right for students, versus what is needed… I would like to see [The University] work more closely with the Students’ Union”.
Sohini Biswas (she/ they), Chair of Resist Rape Culture
Fourth-year psychology student
Sohini Biswas is the Chair of Resist Rape Culture, “a campaign that's dedicated to tackling rape culture and misogyny, both on and on campus”.
They have worked with Aisha Akram, the Wellbeing and Liberation Officer in the SU, to produce a consent training module and the Greater Manchester Council to improve student safety.
Reclaim the Night, therefore, is closely linked to the society’s ethos. Sohini noted that the march is good for encouraging solidarity among students in fighting gender-based violence.
They see Reclaim as a way to take back power and oppose the victim-blaming culture surrounding gender-based violence.
When asked about the three aims of this year’s march, Sohini said: “I think in the past, we've done a lot for raising awareness for these kinds of issues. But I think this year, [with] the concrete aims we've got… I think those are really important to kind of say that we're actually fighting towards something, fighting for a better future”.
In their fight for a better future, Sohini gave a closing “call to action” at the end of the march. The first mass action, says Sohini, will be an “email blockade” to lobby Andy Burnham to take Reclaim’s demands seriously.
Resist Rape Culture was represented by Aishah Vukusic, their Secretary, during the speeches at the end of the evening. She spoke about the importance of intersectionality in events like Reclaim. "Trans and gender-nonconforming people face violence at shocking rates. This is an issue that intersects with race, sexuality, ability, and so much more. [...] acknowledging this intersectionality matters because the layers of discrimination compound”.
Jess Watson (they/them), Chair of the Trans Association
3rd-year Architecture student
Jess Watson has recently taken up the role of Chair of the Trans Association. Their work centres on providing support and ‘social spaces’ for marginalised gender students, as well as organising campaign action.
Reclaim, to them, is a chance to emphasise the need for safety and security for marginalised genders who are more susceptible to gender-based violence. “Reclaiming is about saying, no, we deserve the right to be out here”.
When asked about the aim to guarantee late-night employees safe transport home, they emphasised that students are more likely to be working jobs in the night-time economy and stated that “employees do have that duty of care over their employees”.
Noting the potential for positive impact in relation to the proposed 24-hour buses, they stated “I’m also really passionate about buses because they are such an accessible mode of transport for disabled people”. There are also additional challenges faced by disabled employees, with an estimated 8 accessible Ubers in all of Manchester.
As the Chair of the Trans Association, Jess’ speech focused on transgender marginalisation and their personal campaigning (over the last 3 years) to include transgender students in the Night Time Safety Charter.
“We cannot expect that anything other than the explicit inclusion of trans people into documents such as the Night Time Safety Charter will result in us being included and protected by these policies. Simply not excluding us is not enough”.
As well as a speech, Jess performed their own poem, which included a call to continue advocacy throughout the year, rather than just attending the Reclaim march. They suggested students attend events like ‘Reclaim the Townhall’ and engage with minority group associations.
When asked about The University’s role in student safety, Jess said it should use its “massive power within the city” further, to get “city-wide policies in place to ensure student safety”.
“I also think they should look at how they’re ensuring safety [...] on campus”.
Jess gave examples of actions The University could take, such as gender diversity training and first aid classes for all security staff working on campus.
But they seemed hopeful for the future as the “new leadership [...] seems a bit more positive”.
Here is an extract from Watson's poem from their Reclaim the Night speech:
"Today I mourn
But I will not forget
The light my trans siblings
Brought to this, our world
Today I mourn
But take what strength I have
And battle on against that tide
Of fearful retribution
With my fire
I will turn that tide
To a glowing mist
Of kaleidoscopic and
Multitudinous glory
Of gender claimed
And fought so hard for
I will try to share
With all who’ll listen
My tale of struggle
That is not mine alone
This valiant struggle to set all
Whose gender strays
From what’s expected
Free at last
So that this list of the dead
That grows each passing year
Will one day end
And all human lives can be lived
In freedom and in peace
So that all humanity
Can live unchained
In celebration of one another’s glory".
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