Fraternity members lined up in Faner Plaza late in the evening on Thursday, Oct. 4 to run from the Student Center, around Altgeld Hall and back again — in high heels. 

Participants had varying degrees of success, with some running to finish the half-mile track in under five minutes, and others hobbling along the track and returning 10 minutes or later after the start time. Many runners duct-taped their feet into the much smaller shoes.

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The Carbondale Survivor Empowerment Center partnered with the Interfraternity Council 

for the third annual “Walk a Mile in Their Shoes” charity event. 

Jack Aldihaimawi, the Interfraternity Council president, was one of the primary organizers of the event along with the organization’s Vice President of Programs and Events Parker Scott. Aldihaimawi planned the first charity walk in 2021.

“It’s going good. Every year, it seems to get bigger and bigger,” Aldihaimawi said. “A lot of guys in the [Interfraternity Council] community take a lot of passion in this. That’s why they come here, strap some high heels on and walk a half mile.”

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This year’s event raised over $600 for the Carbondale Survivor Empowerment Center, an organization in Carbondale committed to the wellbeing and quality of life of domestic violence victims through their shelter and the use of crisis hotlines and community outreach. Callie Metzger, the development specialist at the center, attended the event as a representative of the organization.

“The event is silly, so it brings kind of a joy and a laughter to the situation,” Metzger said. “When you ‘walk a mile in someone’s shoes,’ you’re putting yourself in their situation and trying to understand. When they walk in the heels, they’re standing with us as we stand against domestic violence.”

Also present at the event was the new, yet-to-be-certified RSO the Saluki Alliance Against Sexual Assault. Riley McCabe is the president and founder of the group.

“I see a big need in the community for education,” McCabe said. “A lot of things stem from miseducation on rape and sexual assault and what it actually is, so I think it’s really important to just educate people on what boundaries are and what words are actually consent.”

The Survivor Empowerment Center has multiple on-campus events scheduled this October for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Chief among them is the “Little Black Dress” event at the Carbondale Civic Center on October eighteenth at 7 p.m.. Tickets are $50 for a “classy evening of fun” according to a flier put out by the Survivor Empowerment Center, including appetizers, live music, and local vendors. Semi-formal dress is encouraged but not mandated. Sarah Settles is the domestic violence and rape crisis program coordinator, and has been working at the center for 15 years.

“We’re trying to raise awareness and funds towards benefitting survivors of domestic violence,” Settles said. “And so we encourage everyone to come to Little Black Dress”

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