Most likely due to the charged political season we find ourselves mired in, 2012 has seen a rise in the discussion of women's issues and reminded us that we as a society have a long way to go in attaining true gender equality.

So, as is the case every year, we welcome the return of the annual Take Back the Night festivities put on by the fine folks at HSU’s Women’s Resource Center, the North Coast Rape Crisis Team and HSU's Critical Race, Gender and Sexuality Studies Department. The series of events, spanning 11 days from April 2 to 13, are aimed at raising awareness and ending sexualized violence against women.

Here's the complete list of proceedings for the fast-approaching month of April:

Monday, April 2: Social ideas about masculinity and manhood will be discussed at a film screening of the Men’s Story Project from 6-8 p.m. at HSU Founders Hall 163.

Tuesday, April 3: The Eric Rofes Multicultural Queer Resource Center sponsors the "Hatred of the Feminine Workshop" at 5:30 p.m. in HSU's Founders Hall 125.

Monday, April 9: A memorial for victims of partner violence in Humboldt will be held on the HSU Quad from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; A T-shirt making workshop for womyn-identified survivors takes place from 3-5 p.m. at HSU's Nelson Hall East 106; A sexualized-violence-themed open mic takes place at Redwood Yogurt from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 10: Queer disabled Sri Lankan writer Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha leads an interactive workshop titled "Art and Practice of Disability Justice" in HSU's Great Hall from 3:30-5 p.m. Later, Piepzna-Samarasinha gives a keynote address in the Kate Buchanan Room at 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 11: Learn to better communicate vulnerable stories at the "Warrior Poets Workshop" in the Mad River Room from 2-4 p.m.; The hard truths of partner abuse and sexual assault will be discussed during "The Revolution Starts At Home" workshop in the bottom of the "J" from 6-8 p.m.

Thursday, April 12: Discussion of domestic violence in the Native American community takes place during "Historical Trauma and Domestic Violence: Unique Circumstances in Indian Country" in the Native Forum from 6-8:30 p.m.

Friday, April 13: The main event of the week. The Take Back the Night Rally at 5 p.m. on HSU's Quad will feature speeches, performances, music and poetry. The mic will be open to anyone who wants to speak at 6:45 p.m. followed by an empowering march through Arcata.

From April 9-13, an ongoing, collaborative mural project will take over HSU's Art Quad.

For more info on Take Back the Night events, go to humboldt.edu/events.