Students and staff at UNK gathered near the Cope Fountain to take part in “A Walk in Her Shoes March,” an annual event that encourages empathy and raises awareness about domestic and sexual violence.
The walk is UNK’s version of the nationwide “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” campaign, where men step into high heels to quite literally take a few steps in women’s shoes.
“From my understanding, it started here at UNK a few years ago,” said Estefano Paez, student organization coordinator in the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership. “It’s based off of ‘Walk a Mile in Her Shoes,’ which is a nationwide event where they actually walk a whole mile. Here on campus we minimize it a bit. We start at the fountain, walk to the Louie the Loper statue, and then back, with different statistics and stories of victims along the way.”
As participants made their way across campus, they stopped at twelve designated stations to hear stories, statistics and messages about support and prevention. The event was organized by the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership in collaboration with Women Are Problematic, the Office of Compliance and the S.A.F.E. Center.
Paez said the event’s message is about both awareness and action. It’s about showing support for survivors while reminding the UNK community that safety is a shared responsibility.
“The main goal is to support survivors and let them know they’re not alone,” Paez said. “There’s also a focus on how men have to be a part of it so that they can help. It’s our responsibility as well to keep campus safe.”
While the event included lighthearted moments like laughter, cheering and a few wobbly steps, the meaning behind it remained serious. The physical discomfort of walking in heels is meant to represent the struggle and imbalance that victims often experience.
Paez said one of the most powerful outcomes is seeing the conversations that follow the walk.
“Even though some people may not like the idea of guys being in heels, it still opens up conversations and makes it easier for some victims to share their stories,” Paez said.
The S.A.F.E. Center, one of the event’s partners, provides free and confidential services to individuals affected by domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking. Their services include 24-hour crisis support, counseling, emergency shelter, advocacy and prevention education across five counties.
“We’ve partnered with this event for several years to share information about our services and connect with students,” said Veronica Holguin, prevention coordinator at the S.A.F.E. Center. “It’s an opportunity to remind the campus community that support is available right here in Kearney and that prevention is something we all have a role in.”
Holguin said that events like “A Walk in Her Shoes March” play an important role in starting difficult but necessary conversations.
“When we talk openly about domestic and sexual violence, we reduce shame and isolation,” Holguin said. “Events like this show that it’s OK to speak up, ask for help and support survivors. The more we talk about these issues, the more we shift the culture toward empathy and action.”
For many students, participating in the event is both meaningful and eye-opening. Mitch Beeson, a senior at UNK, said he has a newfound perspective after participating in the event.
“It’s an event I’ve always wanted to participate in, but this is the first year I’ve actually had the time to do it,” Beeson said. “It’s a great event to give guys a different perspective. Walking in heels is definitely uncomfortable, but it also helps us think about how our actions affect women’s lives.”
Beeson said the walk was harder than expected, but that’s part of the point.
“It was tricky — these were tall heels and definitely hurt,” Beeson said. “Walking that far was a lot, and I almost had my ankles taken out a few times.”
But beyond the physical challenge, Beeson said the event sparked important reflection.
“A lot of the statistics they share throughout the walk are really jarring,” Beeson said. “It gives you a completely different look into someone else’s life. It really is like putting on someone else’s shoes.”
Beeson hopes that when others see men participating, they recognize the message behind the event.
“I hope people take away that we’re conscious of how our actions affect others,” Beeson said. “There are disparities between men and women, and terrible things happen to people, especially women. More men need to be aware of that.”
While the event has become a staple on campus, Paez hopes its message continues to spread beyond the walk itself.
“We want students to know that UNK supports them and that it’s not something to be ashamed of,” Paez said. “We just want them to know that we are here for them.”
Photos by Jenju Peters / Antelope Staff
