Aggies “Walk a Mile in her Shoes’
On April 12 at 11 a.m., Utah State University students and staff gathered with Students United for Reproductive Freedom, or SURF, on the Quad for the “Walk A Mile In Her Shoes” event.
The event was spearheaded by SURF co-presidents Eloise Hales and Bridget Ackroyd.
“This event specifically was about sexual assault awareness. We wanted something for people to come together and recognize that as unpleasant as it is, it is a reality, and the more that we can destigmatize that, the easier it is for survivors to come forward and know they’ll be supported,” Ackroyd said.
Walk A Mile In Her Shoes was held in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. According to Hales, SURF aimed to show solidarity and support to the women and survivors in the community through this event.
“Bringing awareness to sexual assault is extremely important to me. I believe anything helps to take away the shame from survivors,” Hales said. “I think that shame and guilt need to be placed back on the perpetrators, and when we have events like this and people are gathered together, it shows we are united for a cause, and that starts taking away the shame from the victims.”
Students and staff gathered to hear from a CAPSA representative who spoke about survivors and what can be done to support them. Afterward, they walked a lap around the Quad, some wearing heels to symbolize their support.
“Heels are uncomfortable,” Hales said. “It’s to stand in solidarity and commemorate the women and men and people around you who have experienced assault.”
The event drew attention from outside of USU, as University of Utah student Michael Wood joined the event. He said the activism from USU students he knew drew him to attend.
“I think, especially as a man, acknowledging the strength of people being able to come out and say they struggle, that they’ve had issues and they need help is really beautiful,” Wood said.
SURF is involved with more projects involving Sexual Assault Awareness Month, including one involving a digital magazine featuring survivors of sexual assault. The magazine will highlight both photo shoots with survivors and exclusive interviews. Hales said the purpose is to show “we’re more powerful in numbers — any voice counts.”
Another project SURF has been working on includes installing a pharmaceutical and contraceptive vending machine on USU Logan campus.
“We have to definitely make it a yearly thing — make it more something that people can talk about and know that they’re not going to be shamed and know that survivors should be believed,” Ackroyd.
Both Hales and Ackroyd said they were pleased with the turnout. Hales said even though it may be hard to see instant changes from events like these, “any voice is making a change, even just one person.”
The co-presidents shared what motivates them to be involved with SURF.
“I think just spreading that awareness, especially, dare I say, in a culture where that’s not always encouraged… none of it is dirty or wrong, and I think having comprehensive and inclusive sex ed is what motivated me to get involved in SURF,” Ackroyd said.
Hales is a pre-law student hoping to become a women’s advocacy and human rights lawyer.
“This is something I’ve always had a passion for. It’s just so easy for me to want to get involved and have the strive to help because it’s all I want to do,” Hales said.