The men of Manhattan University men partake in a relay, wearing heels to raise awareness on gendered issues.
ELIZABETH KALAJ / THE QUADRANGLE
Elizabeth Kalaj, Senior Writer
Manhattan University’s It’s On Us chapter hosted their inaugural “Walk in Her Shoes” event on April 15 at 7 p.m. in Draddy Gymnasium. The initiative began in 2001 to highlight sexual and gender-based violence. Since then, it has been recreated and honored nationally, including within college campuses.
The event featured a relay race, in which male students competed in high heels that were collected by It’s On Us. Each participant walked two laps on the track in their heels, then tagged in another member of their team to take over. Typically, four teams competed at a time.
Aidan Kelly, a senior philosophy and math double major, participated in the men’s relay during the event. He spoke to The Quadrangle about the significance of an event of this nature.
“It simply raises awareness for all the issues that women go through,” Kelly said. “It touches on a wide range of important topics, including sexual assault, but also focuses on how something as common as walking in heels can be difficult.”
Kelly emphasized that all students should be inspired to participate in and embrace events that support women, as it creates a strong and supportive community.
It’s On Us invited clubs and organizations across campus to partake in the event in the form of creating relay teams and tabling. These included every Greek life organization on campus, spirit squads, the psychology club and We Are College Music (WRCM). Each organization had a table full of items for sale, ranging from key chains to pizza, throughout the duration of the event. All proceeds from the event were donated to the Joyful Heart Foundation.
Sam Wofford, a junior communication major and a member of WRCM, spoke on behalf of the participating organizations and emphasized the importance of event collaboration.
“WRCM got involved because we care about the cause of this event,” Wofford said. “Women’s issues are something that we are really passionate about and as a club in the liberal arts community, we felt it was really important. We are super happy to help out.”
Wofford then went on to explain the emphasis WRCM has had on club collaborations this past year, and how they hope to continue partnering with organizations and playing music for them, creating a fun atmosphere.
Daniela Ramirez, junior psychology major and member of the It’s On Us executive board, thanked all of the men on campus who volunteered to take part in the relay.
“Their [the men’s] participation in this event means everything,” Ramirez said. “The whole point of walking a mile is that, statistically, women usually walk four miles a day simply to get to work and do essential things, which can represent any woman in people’s lives. During the event, it was so heartwarming to see all the men who wanted to continue their turns to raise awareness. I was overwhelmed with joy.”
Ramirez expressed her gratitude to the athletics department and office of Student Life for their help in bringing this event to fruition.
While the relay section of the event was brought to life by men, many women played large roles in every aspect of the event and its creation.
Alexandrea Velez, a senior political science major and co-president of It’s On Us, spoke about all the effort put into creating this event.
“It’s been amazing to see the support from the men who showed up, but I think it’s just as important to recognize the women who poured their time, energy and heart into every part of this event,” Velez said. “This was such a strong moment of women empowerment and it sparked meaningful conversations and brought forward personal stories that made every detail of the event feel deeply connected to the women of Manhattan University. One thing I really appreciated during the planning process was that It’s On Us has a co-ed executive board with mostly women, but with several passionate male leaders who were deeply involved in coordinating as well. Seeing men take the time to genuinely listen to the everyday experiences of women on our own campus and thoughtfully incorporate those realities into the event is what made it so powerful.”