Impact

Take Back the Night Foundation founder to speak to Penn State community

Katie Koestner, founder of the Take Back the Night Foundation, will speak to the Penn State community during a virtual event at 5:30 p.m. on April 21. Credit: Katie KoestnerAll Rights Reserved.

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — Katie Koestner, founder of the Take Back the Night Foundation, an international organization working to end sexual violence, support survivors and raise awareness, will share her story with the Penn State community during a free, virtual event at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21. 

Click here for more information and to register for the event.

"No-Yes: Consent, Relationships and the Katie Koestner Story" is open to the entire Penn State community and supported by the Penn State Harrisburg Student Initiated Fee and Penn State University Police and Public Safety as a Take Back the Night event. 

“We are proud to collaborate with our partners at Penn State Harrisburg to offer an event that focuses on the importance of consent,” said Charlie Noffsinger, associate vice president of the University Police and Public Safety Office. “Katie’s message not only includes her powerful, personal story, but also addresses sexual assault, respect, healthy decision-making, and alcohol, while inspiring students to become active bystanders in the community.”

Koestner appeared on the cover of TIME Magazine at age 18 as the first person in history to publicly speak out about being a victim of date rape. She has shared her personal story with more than 5 million students. 

Koestner has lectured at more than 5,000 colleges and high schools in North America and is the subject of an HBO Movie, as well as dozens of national news programs. The U.S. Ambassador to India has invited Koestner to lecture for 19 days in India, and the U.S. Department of Defense has had her train their top 200 officers.

Last Updated April 13, 2021