Ball State football players, a police officer and fraternity brothers tottered through campus wearing red, four-inch heels to raise awareness for violence against women.
"The idea is to encourage men to put themselves in women's shoes," said Angie Day, an assistant professor of communication studies. "And since it's a such a spectacle, it strikes up conversation about what we are doing."
The third annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes took place from 2 to 5 p.m. Wednesday on University Green. The event included games, an obstacle course and a DJ. Day organized it with 28 students from her Leadership Communication class.
Senior public relations major Brian Gibbons stood on the sidewalk wearing high heels and welcoming students to the event.
"The balls in front of my feet hurt pretty bad, but its nothing compared to the pain the women that have been assaulted go through," Gibbons said.
MARCHING FOR A CAUSE
Men swapped their sneakers for one of 13 pairs of official Walk a Mile in Her Shoes crimson pumps. They stumbled to the sidewalk on McKinley Avenue where they would begin their fashionable journey. Marc Meschnig was one of several men from Phi Kappa Psi fraternity who participated.
"We want to get involved in the community as much as possible," the junior telecommunications major said. "The fact that we are doing it in heels makes it fabulous."
Matt Jennings and Austin Wilson, who are members of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, teamed up for the cause. The chapter is an advocate of sexual assault and violence prevention.
"I give girls all the credit," Wilson said. "There wasn't a time when I wasn't stumbling."
The event also included an obstacle course, with challenges such as running in circles, weaving through cones, jumping rope and tossing a ball into a target. Sophomore telecommunications major Christian Ward found that jump roping was particularly difficult in size 12 heels. But for him, the stand made it worth the pain.
"Honestly, violence against women is a major issue, and it is our responsibility to stand against that," Ward said. "I don't care who you are. You have to fight against violence."
The music had students dancing on University Green and doing the limbo.
"I'm putting on music that has a lot of energy to get people attracted to the event so they'll come check it out," said Jacob Amstutz, a junior elementary education major who acted as the DJ.
About 200 students participate in the walk each year, Day said.
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Freshman architecture students Ximena Mellado and Elizabeth Larson added to the numbers by grabbing nine of their male friends to participate in the event.
"At first, it looked great to watch them walk in heels and for them to see what we do," Larson said. "It's also a great way to raise awareness."
ASSAULT SURVIVORS
Ball State's threat of sexual-related assault is average compared to other campuses, Day said.
"Sexual violence is a highly invisible crime," she said. "We have to educate and empower our students by making them aware."
Psychologist Erin Snyder works at the Counseling Center in Lucina Hall, where she specializes in working with sexual assault victims.
"Unfortunately, I work with a lot of students that have gone through this," Snyder said.
She said she had been a victim of assault when she was in college, and she said one in four women will be the victim of an assault or an attempted assault. College women are four times as likely to become victims. Snyder said events such as Walk a Mile in Her Shoes can provide not only prevention but healing.
"This is often one of the most important parts of recovery for a survivor, by helping other victims and raising awareness, as well as advocating for men and women that have dealt with this issue," Snyder said.
Junior interpersonal communication studies major Kayleigh Rayburn worked at a table taking donations for the event. She has been a victim of violent crime, and she said Walk a Mile can be a positive experience for women.
"To see men here and standing up for this is really great - to see men stand up in heels nevertheless, and walk in our shoes," Rayburn said.
Students were invited to donate throughout the week and at the event. The money goes to the on-campus Office of Victim Services to provide survivor kits, which help students get the counseling and support they need.
Senior history major Judy Julius has had a history in domestic violence. She had been in two abusive marriages and had her ribs, shoulder and hip broken as well as nearly choked in what she called a cycle of abuse. Since then, both abusers have been jailed through her efforts.
"I just don't tolerate any guy attempting to hurt a woman," Julius said. "If you don't stand up and say something, you are giving more power to the offender."
MAKING A STATEMENT
Mayor Dennis Tyler got a fingernail painted crimson for the Stop the Violence Against Women campaign by Operation Jungle Red.
Workers from A Better Way, a domestic violence shelter in Delaware County, were at the event as well to show cohesiveness in the mission of the campus and the community. Victim advocate Tracy Smiley said she wishes there was a similar event for men. It's often overlooked, but they can also be victims of sexual assault.
"Many people think that men can't be sexually assaulted, but they do, even though a big focus is on women," Smiley said. "Some men are like, 'what about my shoes?' But the signs here don't just say, 'Stop violence against women.' It's for everyone."
Erik Scheub, director of media and public relations for the Indiana Coalition Against Sexual Assault, said he usually participates in at least six awareness walks like this each year.
"You would think that after so much practice wearing [heels], I would be good at it," Scheub said, laughing. "But somehow, I get worse at it."
While not all events regarding sexual violence call for stumbling in heels, Scheub said Walk a Mile in Her Shoes adds a different dimension to the cause.
"Since most of the time men are the offenders, it's our responsibility to help the cause," he said. "It shows that men care, and shows other men where they should stand."
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