Student raise funds by donning high heels
Men in high heels and pink shirts marched around campus on Wednesday. For a whole mile, they shouted and walked, holding buckets and purses. They held up signs protesting sexual abuse. They were participating in Walk-a-Mile-in-Her-Shoes, an awareness and fundraising event hosted by SAAVI (Sexual Assault and Anti-violence Information).
The event was created to “take a stand against rape, sexual assault and gender violence by walking a mile in heels,” the SAAVI Web site stated.
Walk-a-Mile-in-Her-Shoes was started nine years ago by Frank Baird, a clinical supervisor at the Valley Trauma Center in Van Nuys, Calif. Baird wanted to create an event to raise sexual-assault awareness.
Baird said, “I wanted to increase the opportunities for men to contribute to efforts to make the world safer. Men are hurt and angered when women they care about are raped.”
Walkers started in the Taggart Student Center by signing up, donating money and putting on donated shoes. They then followed a mile-long trail of orange cones that were placed around campus. A few women, called “Blister Sisters,” joined the men. Women also had the option to volunteer at booths inside the TSC, decorate shoes and prepare the event.
“More and more sign up every year,” said Ashley Geary, who worked at a Walk-a-Mile-in-Her-Shoes booth inside the TSC.
At the end of the walk, prizes were awarded to walkers for most money raised, most enthusiastic walker and group with the most walkers. The group with the most walkers was even awarded a golden shoe trophy.
Geary said, “There are even competitions between sports teams, clubs and apartments.”
During and before the walk, money was raised for SAAVI. Walkers helped raise money by getting pledges from friends and family beforehand. Throughout the walk, they carried buckets and purses that spectators could fill with money.
Walk-a-Mile-in-Her-Shoes is a national organization, and anyone can register a Walk-a-Mile-in-Her-Shoes event through the organization.
The event’s Web site, www.walkamileinhershoes.org, stated that the organization’s mission is “co-creating a united gender movement” and that “men will be part of the solution to ending sexualized violence.”
John Gillespie, a student watching the walkers, said, “I think it’s important that men help, although I don’t personally know how to do it. I know that kind of stuff (sexual assault) happens, and I hate all the guys who do that.”
The SAAVI Web site stated, “In asking men to publicly stand up and show their commitment to ending violence, their actions will encourage other men to start thinking about how they, personally, can do their part.”
The SAAVI Web site stated that the purpose of SAAVI is to “help create violence-free environments and healthy relationships at USU.”
– becca.searle@aggiemail.usu.edu