National Campus Rally
What is Sexual Assault?
National Campus Take Back The Night Rally: November 1, 2026
What Is the National Campus Rally?
On Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 8 pm ET – 7pm CT – 6pm MT – 5pm PT, campuses across the country will hold the National Campus Take Back The Night Rally. Students those who stand with them from their community will gather to share a statement of solidarity with survivors, powerful keynote, march through campus, and conclude with a reading and signing of the The National Student Mandate to End Campus Rape Culture. The goal is the largest national campus rally against sexual violence in history, ending with one demand delivered to administrators and trustees!
The Agenda
One night. Three shared actions. One document read aloud on every participating campus.
| When | Sunday, November 1, 2026 · 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 6 p.m. MT / 5 p.m. PT |
| Who | All institutions of higher education are invited |
| What every campus does | Gathers students for the opening statements and keynote · marches across campus · reads the Mandate aloud |
| The Mandate | Calls for enforceable change to campus environments and institutional systems: named responsibilities, deadlines, data, and consequences. It increases trauma informed training and provides for transparency in reports. |
| TBTN provides | Organizer toolkit, program script, online keynote speakers |
| Cost to campuses | No or low cost participation. Rally Banner is $100. Options for in-person national speakers and free online streamed keynote. |
Why Now
In the past weeks, three developments have come together, 35 years after campus date rape first appeared on a national magazine cover.
The Cornell 7 lawsuit
A former Cornell student, identified as Jane Doe, has sued Cornell University and 7 members of the Chi Phi fraternity. She alleges they raped her in October 2024, when she was 20. The suit says Cornell failed to protect her, and that after its own investigation Cornell expelled only 2 of the 7. The Tompkins County District Attorney found insufficient evidence for criminal charges. Cornell says it followed its policies, and that the chapter remains barred from campus.
“I am Jane Doe.”
Women, and some men, across the country are posting “I am Jane Doe” to protect her identity from online efforts to unmask her. Many are sharing their own stories of assault.
Federal rules just changed again
On September 28, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education formally rescinded the 2024 Title IX rule and restored the 2020 rule. That rule covers only harassment that is “severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive.” Federal direction on campus sexual misconduct has changed repeatedly since 2011.
Together, these put one question in front of the public: what does a university owe the student who reports? The rally gives students a way to answer it on their own campuses, without waiting for Washington or the courts.
How to Talk About It
Cornell is the occasion, and institutional accountability is the goal.
Always say “alleges” or “according to the lawsuit.”
This is a pending civil case, and no criminal charges were filed. Never name, describe, or speculate about the 7 men.
Never try to identify or contact Jane Doe.
The “I am Jane Doe” posts exist to protect her identity. Don’t amplify any post that might reveal it.
Aim at systems, not one school.
Ask what every campus owes the student who reports, rather than attacking Cornell.
Use survivors’ language.
Say “survivor” or “student who reported,” never “accuser.” Leave out graphic detail and clinical terms.