Richard Farias, director of student life, and kinesiology Chair Brad Dudney march in heels April 2015 from Loftin to the Empowerment Center to raise awareness about rape and sexual assault. File
Empowerment Center hosts event for Sexual Assault Awareness.
By Tiffany Anne Bermea
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Put yourself in the shoes of a person who was victimized through rape, sexual assault, or gender violence.
It is not easy, but organizers of an event that literally encourages men and women to trudge a mile in high-heeled shoes hope to at least raise awareness about sexual assault.
For the second year, the empowerment center at this college will be hosting Walk a Mile in Her Shoes 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 13 inside Loftin student center.
The free event is The International Men’s March to stop rape, sexual assault and gender violence.
April is sexual assault awareness month.
Christina Horton, counselor with Services for Women and Nontraditional Students, said, “We had a big crowd last year of about 100 people, and we’re expecting a lot of people this year.”
During the event, both men and women will walk in high heels for one mile.
Anyone is welcome to bring their own pair of shoes. SWAN will also provide heels in many sizes.
Horton said men can wear heels or flat shoes, but heels have a symbolic meaning for women as in imagine being put in a woman’s shoe and walk what they’ve been through. As long as anyone is marching, then it would be a great support and turnout, Horton said.
All of this college executive team, including president Robert Vela, and most of the faculty, are wearing heels in the event, Horton said.
With both men and women walking in heels, it encourages the community to talk about the importance of gender relations and violence.
The website rapecrisis.com say that the importance of this event is to let others know that even though it’s hard to talk to people about sexual violence, no one is alone, It lets others know how to prevent sexual violence and how to recover from it.
The Rape Crisis Center is partnering with SWAN for the event.
According to rapecrisis.com, the center’s “mission is to be a national leader providing excellent care for those impacted by sexual violence through crisis intervention, counseling and prevention education.”
The walk will end at the empowerment center at 703 Howard St. San Antonio, TX 78212. There will be refreshments and a raffle for prizes.
For more information, contact Horton at 210-486-1455 or chorton17@alamo.edu.
