Men pumped up to fight assault

By Gwen Daniels

Published April 29, 2008

When sophomore Rob Stretch walked laps around Stankowski Field on Sunday, he did not put on running shoes.

Instead, he wore a pair of black stilettos.

Alpha Phi Omega, a service fraternity open to men and women, and the Panhellenic Association played host to “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes,” benefiting The Shelter. The Shelter provides support, including emergency housing, to victims of violence or sexual assault.

Men were invited to don a pair of high heels and walk around Stankowski Field, raising both money and awareness for domestic violence and sexual assault victims. Alpha Phi Omega fraternity and Interfraternity Council fraternities sponsored about 20 men to walk the mile.

“It was a lot harder than I thought it would be,” said Stretch, IFC Vice President of Programming. “I don’t know how women do it. It hurt my toes a lot.”

The high heels were more than an interesting image. They symbolize the pain felt by victims of domestic abuse or sexual assault, PHA Vice President of Programming Krystan Fields said.

Glittery posters hung around the track reminded the men about the harsh realities of domestic abuse and sexual assault.

According to the “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” Web site, someone in America is raped every 90 seconds.

One in four college students has been sexually assaulted, Fields said. And female college students are four times more likely to be sexually assaulted than women of any other age.

Fields said the statistics sunk in with the men.

“I think that in the beginning, maybe the guys felt a little bit silly or thought it wasn’t a big deal, but after reading all the posters we had that talked about domestic violence and sexual assault, they realized what they were doing and what those heels represented,” she said.

A 5K race benefiting The Shelter was held in conjunction with the “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event.

Both Alpha Phi Omega and PHA planned similar “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” events, Alpha Phi Omega philanthropy chairwoman Julie O’Brien said. Then the groups decided to work together.

Alpha Phi Omega has worked with The Shelter all year, O’Brien said. Members have volunteered at the shelter and donated money and toiletries. The group also played host to a benefit night at Noodles & Company.

O’Brien first heard of “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” when the women’s shelter where she interns sponsored an event, she said.

PHA leaders heard about “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes,” a national nonprofit organization, at a Greek conference, PHA Vice President of Risk Management Jean Horan said.

“Several of our sororities’ philanthropies benefit The Shelter,” Horan said. “It’s one of those causes that you don’t necessarily hear as much about, and we know The Shelter is in need of money. It’s a great way to help out and locally make a difference.”

O’Brien also said raising awareness was important. If people discuss the issue, they are more likely to take action, she added.

“I know violence against women is a really big issue for me, personally, and I try to make other people care about it too,” O’Brien said. “I think empowering women is really important. Violence against women needs a lot more attention. People need to talk about it.”