The Student Government Association hosted “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes,” Thursday to raise awareness for victims of sexual assault and gender-based violence on campus. | Brittaney Penney /The Cougar.

SGA’s partnership with the It’s On Us movement started this year. |Brittaney Penney / The Cougar

Men and women stepped into stilettos, wedges and platform heels on Thursday afternoon in front of the Cullen Performance Hall to march for awareness of sexual violence in the “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” campaign.

“I know it’s an awkward experience,” Student Government Association President Shaun Theriot-Smith said, “but it helps us have a necessary conversation.”

The national campaign for sexual violence awareness, which was started in 2001, involves marching a set distance in high heels in support of women who don’t have the chance to speak out.

The march, organized by SGA, drew a crowd of roughly 70 people to march two-thirds of a mile around campus in heels.

“I think this is going to create awareness,” chemical engineering sophomore Cesar Aguirre said. “It’s very weird and quirky.”

Many of the fraternities and sororities on campus turned up to march for their philanthropy events and show their support for victims of sexual violence.

Political science freshman Isaiah Garcia, a member of the Sigma Phi fraternity, said he had a new-found respect for women after trudging almost a mile in high-rise wedges.

“It hits home for a lot of us,” Garcia said. “I really wanted to come out and support today.”

The event, although centered around sexual violence awareness, used a unique way to bring out supporters. The various high heels and shoes worn by the attendees made “walking in her shoes” a tangible experience.

“Nobody should be forced to live in a situation where they have some sort of non-consensual activity committed against them,” Theriot-Smith said. “It’s a silly event, but it gets us talking.”

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“‘Walk a Mile in Her Shoes’ kicks off campaign” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar