By Lanna Exilus
We’ve all heard the saying, “don’t judge me til you’ve walked a mile in my shoes or lived a day in my life.”
The Interfraternity Council of FIU conducted their “Walk A Mile In Their Shoes” event on April 11 to support sexual assault awareness month.
Described as a men’s march against sexual assault by the Interfraternity Council, the event kicked off to an interesting start. Male students were given a pair of heels and challenged to walk two laps around the Graham Center.
Manny Perez, a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, described the event and the purpose behind it.
“Basically, we give a pair of heels to the guys where they will walk a mile around in; we also have signs with facts and statistics on sexual assault,” said Perez. “It’s just a way where people can learn how scary it is and how often it happens.”
23.1% of undergraduate college females experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation, according to Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network.
“What I want people to take from this is that if you see something negative in our FIU community, say something; that’s one of the main ways you can prevent something like that,” said Perez.
For some students, walking in the heels is more than a funny moment; it’s a time to reflect on the severity of sexual assault and its impact on victims.
“I decided to wear my heels all day because I feel like people who have experienced sexual assault can’t turn that off, it’s not something they can say I am going to do it from 3pm to 5pm,” said junior philosophy and psychology major, Patrick James Wright III. “It’s definitely a learning experience.”
And although walking around in heels is not something male students may be accustomed to, they are certainly making an impact on others around them.
“I like that this is happening. Seeing that guys are coming out supporting this initiative is great.” said Danielle Ruiz, a junior majoring in biology.
“Walk A Mile In There Shoes” proved to be a successful part of FIU’s initiatives toward bringing awareness of sexual assault. It was a great opportunity that allowed men to take on a larger role in the fight toward ending sexual assault on campus.
Photo retrieved by Flickr.
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