Story by RAEGAN NEUFELD Photos by TONY GUERRERO
Tiger Media Network
As a part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the Interfraternity Council at Fort Hays hosted its 16th annual Walk A Mile In Her Shoes.
The event took place at the Downtown Pavilion, with representatives from Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services, Jana’s Campaign, the FHSU Compliance Office and the University Police Department present. Participants enjoyed food, drinks, games and the mile walk, which the men did in high heels.
Walk A Mile In Her Shoes is an international effort, started in 2001, to support the end of sexual assault and domestic violence.
“It’s a pretty serious conversation, but I’m very proud of all the people who want to address it,” IFC president Parker Opat said. “They know that it’s a necessity for this to end. You have to address the hard facts.”
Events like Walk A Mile In Her Shoes are a way for ICF, the fraternities and the sororities to make an impact outside of campus.
“It’s a great way to get involved with the community,” Opat said. “I feel like a lot of the time, Greek life as a whole gets a bad rap, but we like to promote different things in the community.”
By partnering with organizations like Options and Jana’s Campaign, the event is also centered around education. Options Victim Advocate and Campus Outreach Coordinator Anniston Weber said education and believing survivors are two steps to ending sexual violence.
“That shouldn’t be the most difficult aspect of it, but I would say it is for a lot of people because of the way our society thinks about sexual abuse and sexual assault,” she said.
There are several more events happening throughout the next few weeks for sexual assault awareness.
- What Were YOU Wearing exhibit, April 17-23 at Vanderbilt’s
- Audrie & Daisy movie screening, April 24 at 6 p.m. in the FHSU Memorial Union
- Interactive art exhibit during the Spring Art Walk, April 27
“I think it’s so long-standing because people want to see an end to sexual violence. We just have to put in the work to do it,” Weber said of Walk A Mile and the other events.
More information about Options services can be found on their website.
FHSU students experiencing sexual or domestic violence can contact Compliance Officer Amy Schaffer at 785-628-4175 or alschaffer@fhsu.edu.
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