About 70 students braved last night's rain and heavy winds to rally on the steps of Memorial Church as a show of solidarity among women.

The rally, a focal point of Take Back the Night (TBTN) Week, began with opening comments from Radcliffe Union of Students (RUS) co-president Mia C. Bagneris '99 and other rally organizers.

The microphone was left open for audience members to speak. The speeches--unrehearsed, emotionally moving, and often based on personal experience--dealt with issues facing women including rape, sexual assault, abuse and depression.

The rally was followed by a march to the Lyman Common room in Radcliffe Yard. The group chanted as they walked.

"Part of the march is to have people hear us, to feel empowered," said TBTN Week co-chair Talya M. Weisbard '00. "Our goals for the rally were for women to come together as a community to share their stories, and also to promote awareness."

"To me, TBTN is all about gaining our voice. We as women are often afraid to speak up against unwanted sexual attention," Weisbard added.

Carletta P. Bruno '00, who orga- nized the rally with Tricia S. Wencelblat '00and Yun J. Lee '00, said she felt that the eventwas a success, and that the rain only added to thefeeling of solidarity.

"It was wonderful," Bruno said. "The statementwas a lot stronger with the rain."

The rally was a co-ed event and several menattended. "We decided to make the rallyco-ed--even though women might be most comfortableotherwise--because these issues need to be solvedby the whole community, both women and men," TBTNWeek co-chair Judith Batalion '00 said.

"A lot of TBTN is about public speaking andbeing able to get in front of a crowd, for a womanto voice her opinion," Wencelblat added.

Allison Guttu '98, who was active in organizingTBTN Week and attended the rally, described thesignificance of the event.

"It was important for me and for other peopleto know we are not alone," she said.

Weisbard emphasized the unique nature ofHarvard's TBTN Week. "TBTN is an internationaleffort that has been going on 30 years," Weisbardsaid. "Harvard is unusual in that we spend a weekdiscussing broad women's issues, not just a day.