COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – University of Colorado Colorado Springs Provost Mary Coussons-Read will kick off Domestic Violence Awareness month during an Oct. 4 event at Iron Horse Park at Fort Carson.
Coussons-Read will join with Maj. Gen. Paul LaCamera, 4th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force-Carson commander, in condemning domestic violence and pledging to offer assistance in its prevention and helping victims recover. She will present a proclamation previously signed by UCCS Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak before a 9:30 a.m. Run/Walk called “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes.” Registration for the run/walk begins at 8 a.m.
The event is free. Tickets and registration are required. Please visit http://www.eventbrite.com/e/dvam-1st-annual-walk-a-mile-in-her-shoes-5k-runwalk-tickets-12626079945?aff=eorg. Those who plan to attend should be prepared to show their driver’s license and proof of insurance and current registration when traveling on base at Fort Carson.
Walk A Mile Flyer 2014-011The Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event is sponsored by Fort Carson’s Army Community Services and the UCCS Respect on Campus project. The event, which features men walking in women’s high-heel shoes, is a playful opportunity for men to raise awareness in their community about the serious causes and effects to men’s sexualized violence against women. For more information about the national event, visit http://www.walkamileinhershoes.org/
“There is an old saying about not really understanding another person’s experience until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes,” Catherine Kaukinen, associate professor, School of Public Administration, said. “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes asks men to literally walk one mile in women’s high-heeled shoes. It’s not easy walking in these shoes, but it’s fun and it gets the community to talk about something that’s really difficult to talk about: gender relations and men’s sexual violence against women.”
Following the “walk the walk” theme, organizers want to help people continue to “talk the talk.” Representatives from UCCS, Fort Carson and local domestic violence prevention agencies such as TESSA will be in attendance to encourage conversations, answer questions and provide referrals.
Other UCCS Domestic Violence Awareness Month Events are:
- TESSA Supply Drive. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Oct. 2-6 near Café 65 in the University Center
- “Water for Elephants” movie screening and circus night. 7 p.m. Oct. 9 on the West Lawn.
- Survivor Speak Out. 7 p.m. Oct. 28 at Berger Hall.
For more information about events, visit http://www.uccs.edu/roc
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs, located on Austin Bluffs Parkway in Colorado Springs, is one of the fastest growing universities in Colorado. The University offers 37 bachelor’s degrees, 19 master’s and five doctoral degrees. UCCS enrolls more than 11,000 students on campus annually and another 2,000 in online programs. For more information, visit www.uccs.edu