October 2, 2014

Walking in her shoes

UCCS Walk a Mile in Her Shoes
By Tom Hutton | CU Colorado Springs

CU Colorado Springs joined Fort Carson to march in the "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" event, where men and women donned heels to make a stand against domestic violence.

UCCS Provost Mary Coussons-Read kicked off Domestic Violence Awareness month during an Oct. 4 event at Iron Horse Park at Fort Carson.

Coussons-Read joined Maj. Gen. Paul LaCamera, 4th Infantry Division, and Joint Task Force-Carson commander, in condemning domestic violence and pledging to offer assistance in its prevention or helping victims to recover. She presented a proclamation signed by Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak before a 9:30 a.m. Run/Walk called “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes.” 

The Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event wais sponsored by Fort Carson’s Army Community Services and the UCCS Respect on Campus project. The event, which featured men walking in women’s high-heel shoes, is a playful opportunity for men to raise awareness in their community about the serious causes and effects to men’s sexualized violence against women. For more information about the national event, visithttp://www.walkamileinhershoes.org/

“There is an old saying about not really understanding another person’s experience until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes,” Catherine Kaukinen, associate professor, School of Public Administration, said. “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes asks men to literally walk one mile in women’s high-heeled shoes. It’s not easy walking in these shoes, but it’s fun and it gets the community to talk about something that’s really difficult to talk about: gender relations and men’s sexual violence against women.”

Following the “walk the walk” theme, organizers wanted to help people continue to “talk the talk.” Representatives from UCCS, Fort Carson and local domestic violence prevention agencies such as TESSA attended to encourage conversations, answer questions and provide referrals.

Other Domestic Violence Awareness Month Events are:

  • TESSA Supply Drive. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Oct. 2-6 near Café 65 in the University Center
  • “Water for Elephants” movie screening and circus night. 7 p.m. Oct. 9 on the West Lawn.
  • Survivor Speak Out. 7 p.m. Oct. 28 at Berger Hall.

For more information about events, visit http://www.uccs.edu/roc