Tonight, in response to the Take Back the Night rally and march, Penn State Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) will be hosting Take Back Your Rights.

Though both events take a stand against sexual assault, YAF President Shauna Moser said the 8 p.m. information session in 110 Wartik Lab about concealed weapons, self-defense tactics and other methods women can use to protect themselves presents what they say are "better methods" of protection.

Local National Rifle Association representative Charles Jones will conduct the program, offering information about gun possession and fielding questions from the audience.

"The main reason that we're doing this is because there's a lot of information about gun ownership and other ways women can protect themselves that is not talked about," Moser said, adding that carrying Mace and not walking alone at night are some other protection methods.

Moser said she believes that as a rally and a march, Take Back the Night will not deter criminals from preying on women.

"We didn't feel Take Back the Night was being proactive enough," she said. "Rapists aren't going to go there. We need to give women a way to proactively defend themselves."

YAF Secretary Kelly Keelan said she would attend the event because she thinks Penn State women have not been given adequate information about self-protection.

"No other campus group has done anything proactive," she said. "I think we're the first."

Take Back the Night Coordinator Addie Dunn said she disapproves of YAF's ideas about sexual assault prevention.

"Carrying concealed weapons is reactive, not proactive," she said. "A proactive approach is education on consent and other preventative methods, not just acting while being attacked."

College Democrats President Megan Green called YAF's ideas for women's self-defense insensitive to women and victims.

"I don't think you can solve violence with violence," she said. "The solution is educating people. A woman should not have to worry about walking home at night, just as a man shouldn't have to worry about walking home at night."

College Republicans chair Vicky Cangelosi said she advocates gun possession. "It's a much better approach because we see sexual assault so often at universities," she said. "College-aged women are at such a high risk."