Students, faculty and staff walk in heels in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month on Monday, April 3, 2017. Mary Hallie Sterling • The Daily Beacon
UT students, faculty walk over sexual assault Shelby Whitehead Staff Writer
A runway show contestant ends the “Hike the Hill in Heels” event on Monday, April 3, 2017. Mary Hallie Sterling • The Daily Beacon
Volume 133 Issue 48
Organizers did not let it rain on their parade as hill hikers relocated to Thompson-Boling Arena on Monday, April 3, for the third annual Hike the Hill in Heels event. The Hike the Hill event is held on the first weekday of April to kickoff Sexual Assault Awareness Month in hopes of bringing attention to the issue of sexual assault. The original route was set to start at HSS and go to Ayres Hall but was changed last-minute due to heavy rain the morning of the event. Participants met at Thompson-Boling Arena and walked laps around the concourse while wearing high-heeled shoes of various heights, styles and colors. “Hiking in heels is a metaphor for walking in the shoes of someone who has had an experience you haven’t. It’s an empathy building exercise,” Fletcher Haverkamp, wellness coordinator in the Center for Health Education & Wellness, said. Chancellor Beverly Davenport commenced the event in heels at the front of the group. She was followed by various individuals who represented diverse facets of the campus community, including faculty, staff, athletes and students of all levels.
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“I went to spread the word about consent. My favorite part was the people participating and seeing people of different genders come out for this event. It shows how much people care on this campus,” Caitlin Lloyd, freshman in computer science and member of Vols2Vols, said. For some, walking in heels came naturally from years of practice, but for others, it was a challenge. Austin Collette, senior in supply chain management, said he came to receive extra credit but was glad he could participate in the event because of its message. “I’ve gained a lot of respect for ladies and what it takes to dress up. I’ve done three or four laps, and I’m already obviously sweating,” Collette said. After walking the concourse, Collette joined six others in the runway competition. The models shakily walked onto the T-shaped stage. Some were wearing stilettos, some pumps and others glittering heels while they walked the catwalk. The winner of the catwalk competition was Wilson Wade, junior in forestry and North Carrick RA. In the other competitions, Molly Yearger represented the Gamma Chi sorority in accepting the awards for largest team and most funds raised by an individual. See HIKE THE HILL IN HEELS on Page 4
Tuesday, April 4, 2017