Walking a mile in women's shoes for domestic violence awareness

Posted at: 10/03/2012 4:33 PM | Updated at: 10/03/2012 5:24 PM
By: Christine VanTimmeren | WHEC.com

Calling hours were held Wednesday for the 18-year-old student who was murdered at The College at Brockport.

Alexandra Kogut was beaten to death inside her dorm room at Brockport. She was a freshman student and part of the swim team. Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputies believe 21-year-old Clayton Whittemore is responsible for her death. He pleaded not guilty to second degree murder and is in the Monroe County Jail.

Students at Brockport say this is something they can’t forget and they continue to find ways to honor Alex. Domestic violence is something that the school planned long ago to highlight during this week. They’ve had speakers, booths set up and they gathered outside the student union Wednesday with a special goal. They wanted men to experience what it is like to walk a mile in a woman’s shoes.

There’s just something about a good high heel shoe. A tall, glossy high hell shoe is a staple for most women, but for men, not so much.

Kathryn Oaks, Prevention and Outreach Services, said, “It’s just kind of an eye opening experience for the guys to be like; ‘Wow, you wear these all the time?’"

There have been a lot of smiles, which is exactly what the campus needs. Laughter is something there hasn’t been a lot of since freshman student Alex Kogut was killed in her dorm this past weekend.

Oaks said, “It's a nice way to still stay focused on the issue but have a humorous side to it.”

John Halstead, Brockport President, said, “We need both the serious message and we need a little bit of relief and the ability to step back to laugh at one another a little bit.”

A lighthearted fun with a heavy hearted message. Men’s violence against women will not be tolerated at Brockport now or ever.

Oaks said, “Our Brockport community has really been brought together by this situation and we notice that more guys are willing to step forward and take a stand now that they're eyes have been opened to this really happens.”

As fun as it was to see all the men so willing to put on high heels for a short time, the students did have a higher purpose, to make men aware of domestic violence and to encourage them to stand up for women and stand up against what happened this past weekend.

The school provided two buses and then packed each one with 50 students and headed out to New Hartford for Alex’s calling hours Wednesday. Alex’s funeral is planned for Thursday at noon.

Have a story you want our news team to investigate? Call us at 585-232-1010, click here to send us an e-mail or leave us a Facebook post or tweet.

Print Story