Walk a Mile in Her Shoes: student-athletes stand tall for women's rights
Dunmore, PA - Penn State Scranton male student-athletes and prospective Penn Stater's and their families marched the campus in red high heels Sunday afternoon during the "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" event, a collaboration between the Student-Athlete Advisory Council and DEI, which coincided with the spring Accepted Student Program.
Created in 2001, "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" is a non-profit organization that raises awareness for rape, sexual assault, and gender violence against women, as well as help men better acknowledge women in their everyday life experiences.
"It means that we're challenging the stereotypes of the patriarchy and we're raising awareness to the challenges that women face," DEI Coordinator Julia Egan explained to the crowd in attendance before the march kicked off.
The tradition of men walking a mile in women's shoes has become a worldwide movement that raises millions each year. This year, Penn State Scranton supported a local domestic violence shelter in the area by dedicating the walk to the NEPA Women's Resource Center. A center representative marched side by side with student-athletes, families and staff while chanting, " We are Penn State! We support women!"
Student-Athlete Advisory Council Vice President and men's basketball senior forward Melick Lubin said it's important to host the event. He donned a pair of pumps for the walk through campus to bring awareness to the campus community.
"I think it's important to show that we stand in solidarity for women's rights as students, athletes and a campus," Melick commented. "It shows that were not blind to the issues that females have to deal with," added Paul Krzan, a junior Cross Country and Club Track & Field runner who serves as a SAAC representative.
As the event progressed, participants and onlookers were invited to sign the Walk a Mile banner and write a supportive message. The banner, which will be donated to the Women's Resource Center, will hang in The View Cafe this week for the campus community to add their signatures or a message of support.
"Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" culminated the week's long Women's History Month events on campus which featured a Multicultural Fashion Show, Frontline Worker Panel and Women in STEM Movie Night. 