Walking in Heels for Walden at St. Mary’s College

Last weekend, Walden and St. Mary’s College (SMCM) hosted the third annual “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event in St. Marys county. This year the event showed record turnout and support from both the campus community and the general public.

Walk a Mile is a national campaign aimed at raising awareness of, and support for victims of sexual violence. During the walk, men are asked to don women’s high-heeled shoes and walk a mile. This past weekend, St. Mary’s College ran a concurrent event, called The Clothesline Project, where survivors of sexual assault share their experiences by writing them on a t-shirt to be displayed on campus in the upcoming week.

By raising awareness and sharing stories of survival and recovery, Walden and SMCM hope to provide a sense of togetherness and support for those who may have been affected by sexual assault of other power-based violence.

Many think of sexual assault as being a “women’s problem,” but these organizations want to ensure that anyone dealing with such issues are comfortable seeking help and will be heard. Men and women shared their stories through The Clothesline Project, and Emma Brady, a SMCM senior and a volunteer doing outreach education with Walden, organized and created a sculpture to present real facts on sexual violence.

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