Stilettos stomp out struggle

Students wearing heels raced through obstacles on Colonial Drive Tuesday in an attempt to raise awareness of domestic violence.

The event, called Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, cost participants $10 with all proceeds going towards Turning Point of Tuscaloosa, a private, non-profit corporation that provides comprehensive quality services to victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault.

Abby Grace Brown, the vice president of fraternal relations for Alpha Chi Omega, the group that hosted the event, said she was pleased with the way the event ran.

“We had a great turnout, somewhere between 350 and 400 participants came out from all across the UA campus,” Brown said. “We're excited to have them here and to help raise awareness for domestic violence.”

Brown said although the topic is a tough one to talk about, it is important to continue to do so.

“Many people don't realize how many people are affected by domestic violence,” she said.

Alabama ranked second in the nation in the rate of women killed by men, according to a study released last month by the Violence Policy Center. Further statistics showed that one in four women experience domestic violence in their lifetimes, according to a press release from Alpha Chi Omega.

Jeremiah Knight, the director of customer service for Verizon in Huntsville, Ala., said he and Verizon were pleased to partner with the event to raise awareness of domestic violence.

He also spoke about HopeLine, Verizon's program through which users donate cell phones they no longer use to them to be refurbished or recycled. The phones are then turned around and given to domestic violence centers.

Since 2001, Verizon has raised about $8 million for HopeLine, he said.

Knight announced the University would show a movie in the Ferg Theater on Nov. 14 entitled, “Telling Amy's Story,” a documentary about a former Penn State student killed as a result of domestic violence.

“We want as many people as possible to know the signs of domestic violence,” he said. “Oftentimes, we may know someone who is experiencing this and fail to act. Events such as this one will help everyone be able to identify some of domestic violence's warning signs and find the courage to act.”

Knight said events such as Walk a Mile in Her Shoes were a good way of informing people about domestic violence.

“It's all about getting excited and having fun, but to also realize that to walk a mile in her shoes is not so much fun,” he said.