More than 200 OU students gathered at the site on East Green where an OU woman was raped Nov. 2, and they let out a collective scream that pierced the night air.

For more than an hour last night, students held candles, chanted, read poems and shared rape survival stories. Many students were bought to tears as individual students spoke to the group about personal rape experiences.

John W. Liston/THE POST
From left to right, Kelly Harris, Mara Marcom and Molly Raba hold candles during a rally last night to protest the rape that occurred Nov. 2 between Tiffin and Morton halls.

The vigil, organized by several campus groups, gave OU students the chance to mourn the rape of a 19-year-old South Green resident, which happened between 10:30 and 11 p.m. in a small patch of trees between Morton and Tiffin halls. Police still are investigating the incident.

Catlin Sweet, an OU student and member of Swarm of Dykes, addressed the crowd and urged Tiffin Hall residents to join the vigil.

"I'm sick of walking down the street at night and being afraid," she said.

Eleni Zulia, Women's Affairs commissioner for Student Senate, proposed working to get better lighting on campus. She suggested students e-mail President Robert Glidden and Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Joel Rudy, and show support for increased lighting on campus.

Mel Gelbart, an OU Police Department officer, said the campus is safe but students still need to be aware. "Crime can happen in the middle of the afternoon," she said.

Senior Dennis Berendts, who held a sign that read "The Rape of Women is a Symptom of Our Sexist Society," said he came to the rally as a symbolic gesture.

"I want people to think of rape as a symptom of a greater problem," he said.

Faith Dickerhoof, a junior, said she came to the rally to show support for rape survivors.

"I have a 2-year-old sister," she said. "I have friends and I don't want anything like this to happen to them."

One freshman woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, said she was a sexual assault survivor.

"You can take every precaution, but then it happens," she said, shaking her head. "It's so horrible that we can't walk alone at night."