Wednesday night the Quad hosted something a bit more special. Male UA students had the opportunity to experience what the wardrobe of a woman feels like as they wore heels and raced around the Quad in Alpha Chi Omega’s Walk A Mile annual philanthropy event to raise awareness for domestic abuse.
“We have close to 30 teams this year,” Amber Ausley, philanthropy chair of Alpha Chi Omega, said. “Each team gets 10 members and the cost to participate is $10 per member.”
At the end of the event, the runners tweeted “#1is2many.” The hashtag supports the White House’s campaign against domestic violence.
Besides raising awareness, the runners also compete for a chance to tour the Mal Moore Athletic Facility. The runners hashtag their fraternity, and whoever has the most tweets wins the tour.
For freshman Alpha Chi Omegas, the first time participating in Walk A Mile can be exciting.
“All of the freshman Alpha Chi Omegas get split into groups and assigned fraternities to go ask if they will participate in Walk A Mile,” Audrey Watford, a freshman majoring in journalism and a member of Alpha Chi Omega, said.
Many other members of the UA Greek system attend the event to raise awareness and, of course, for the laughs.
“I think it is so important for sororities to support each other’s philanthropies,” Sam Cassidy, a sophomore majoring in business and Alpha Chi Omega member, said. “It’s not about which sorority you are in, it’s about helping improve the lives of others by working together. Supporting other sororities’ philanthropies helps them raise more money and makes more of a positive impact.”
Ausley said the only requirement for the fraternity members who participate in Walk A Mile is to bring their own high heels.
And bring their own heels they did, from wedges to spiked heels; some boys wore sequins from head to toe, while others sported wigs as they attempted to run in their patent stilettos. It was pure entertainment for anyone who chose to stop and take a look.
Along with being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Ausley said Alpha Chi Omega is excited to kick off Domestic Violence Awareness Month with Walk a Mile.
“With the White House’s campaign and everything going on in the NFL, I’m really excited to be philanthropy chair this year and help raise awareness,” Ausley said.
