MUN goes the distance to eradicate violence against women

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event brings stories alive, raises awareness towards problem

By Paul Hussey

Becky Winsor says that while sexual violence against women at Memorial University is comparatively low, it still exists.

“We’re lucky in terms of the fact that I know there aren’t as many sexual assaults on campus compared to places like York University,” said Winsor, Women’s Representative on the MUN Students’ Union (MUNSU).

“But they still have taken place in the past couple years.”

That’s why Winsor and the rest of the Women’s Committee on MUNSU decided to put together the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event last Friday as a way for them to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The event gave anyone interested an interactive tour following the stories of a particular woman who have experience sexual violence, while also having the opportunity to speak with various support organizations along the way for questions or support.

“People have gone through and have had very positive reactions, in terms of how it affects them and stuff like that. But we’ve also had some people who didn’t want to go through, just because of triggers and things like that,” Winsor explained.

The Women’s Committee spent time brainstorming a unique way to honour victimized women during the special day while also providing information and support, and Winsor says the Walk a Mile event was a perfect fit. She says they got the idea from similar interactive tours like the one at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC.

For victimized women on campus in need of support, Winsor says the Women’s Resource Centre is there to provide information, support, and guidance for any type of situation. Off campus, the NL Sexual Assault and Crisis Centre and the Iris Kirby House are also available to women.

Memorial University also reinstated its WalkSafe program this year, to ensure that no woman has to walk alone, especially at night. MUNSU is investing almost $25,000 in WalkSafe this year alone.

Winsor admits that while sexual violence against women at Memorial University has been relatively low, other forms of sexual harassment—like offensive jokes—are still prevalent, and many people don’t even realize that they could be potentially hurting someone by making them.

“Even jokes that you might think are really funny might offend someone, or relate to the violence they’ve experienced—and that’s not okay,” she said.

Share