Heels for Her event raises awareness for sexual aggression

Dryden junior Nick Ender checks the size of his red heels while waiting for the mile walk to begin with other event participants Romeo senior Dillon Stanco and Bloomfield Hills senior Michelle Meinhart at the Heels for Her event Wednesday night in Finch Fieldhouse. (Brooke Mayle/Assistant Photo Editor)

Men and women alike sported their red high heels with pride Wednesday evening at Finch Fieldhouse.

With women’s history month coming to an end and sexual assault awareness month just around the corner, Sexual Aggression Peer Advocates hosted the fifth Heels for Her event, formally known as “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes.”

CMU men and women attended the free and open event to raise awareness for sexual aggression.

“We really just like this event because it is a more fun way to raise awareness with a unified front,” graduate assistant Megan Scudder said. “A lot of our events are more somber, because sexual aggression is such a serious issue, but we wanted a way for the organizations to stand together against it.”

A $10 registration fee was required for all participants, and, in return, they were given a pair of red high heels to strut a mile in.

Nicholas Ender had to prepare mentally and physically for his first experience walking a mile in heels.

“I like to come out to programs like these to raise awareness and support SAPA,” the Dryden junior said. “As a first time heel-wearer, they are not comfortable. I have already lost circulation in my toes, and I haven’t even started walking.”

As the upbeat music began, so did the walkers. Striving to complete the walk, Flint junior Christopher Parks broke a heel within the first couple of laps.

“I would rather do two-a-days for football again than walk in heels,” Parks said. “I took a corner too hard, and the heel broke. I tried to keep walking, but it wasn’t easy … All in all, it is a great event, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in SAPA, even as bad as the mile was. It takes a real man to walk in heels.”

Once the song “Wobble” by V.I.C. played, a group of participants and SAPA members followed CMU Police Officer Laura Rico in the wobble dance routine.

“I do not know how people can dance in heels; now, the walking doesn’t seem as bad,” Clinton Township senior Walter Springer said. “I don’t really know the wobble moves, but Officer Rico helped me through. It hurt so bad.”

While the men stumbled along, freshman Madeleine Piotter walked her mile without much effort at all.

“It was a piece of cake. I walked for a cause, and there was no preparation needed,” the East Lansing native said. “I have had experience with heels, so I did not struggle as much as the men did. It was a great event to raise awareness for women’s empowerment, and I appreciate SAPA for putting it on.”