District boys walk a mile in her shoes

With summer just weeks away, entering any school this time of year there is an energetic buzz in the air.

At Palmer High School, however, last Thursday afternoon that buzz was nearing a level of controlled chaos with the mashing of inquiring eighth-graders, PHARM time and an approaching assembly.

A saying goes, “In all this chaos, we found safety,” and amid the fun and games of class spirit events — an effort of health teacher Samantha Ure and AFS coordinators Judy Gette and Ashley Peltier — there was room made for an all-important message reminding students and teachers of the reality of sexual assault.

Vice principal and school safety officer David Bonn was willing to help without putting on the shoes, stepping in during the assembly to make all aware that Alaska is the No. 1 state in the country for rape and has been for 23 of the past 30 years.

Every two minutes, someone in America is raped. One in six American women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime. It could be someone you know or someone you care about who has been, or may be, the victim of sexual violence — your mother, your sister, your friend, girlfriend, wife, coworker or daughter.

Alaska has an epidemic rate of violence. The students were made aware that assaults don’t happen just outside of school, either. Between 10 percent and 38 percent of high school students have been victims of dating violence. Among those students currently dating, an astounding 59 percent have experienced physical violence, and 96 percent have experienced emotional abuse.

The message was supported by the In Her Shoes theory, a social awareness event allowing the image of men in heels to also strike a chord with being a woman in danger of assault. Available at the high school were top athletes — Frontiersman sports page regulars like Kevin Montgomery and Mason Minturn — and other boys willing to literally step-up to make an impact.

Outside the gymnasium, as the assembly was gathered and started up, a scene of anguish and distress unfolded as heels — made available by gracious donations from Bishop’s Attic, Family First Treasures and Turn A Leaf thrift stores — were pulled on with cries of, “I got the pointy ones!” and the realization even some women make: “Oh my God, I have hair on my toes.”

It was obviously a new experience, and they took it well, clopping and hopping around the linoleum in elation. Apparently, women dance, twirl and run like horses when getting their heels on, as that seemed to be the common decision of the boys while waiting outside the gym.

At the time to enter from either entrance of the gym, the boys worked into struts of confidence, trying their best to refrain from falling. Some came prepared, though, one even wearing his hockey helmet. Classmates gawked and laughed, some let out whoops and cheers as the boys passed, slapping hands and leaving a lasting memory about the issue of sexual assault.

Their walk was a chance to say domestic violence and sexual assault are not to be tolerated. The issues are not something easy to stop, but if we all take a stand in our own relationships we can end this epidemic.

When the short jaunt was over and the group of 15 or so was out, groans and exasperation were evident as they wrestled the shoes off, some groaning, “These things kill,” and, “That was the worst 10 minutes of my life.”

But some even admitted, “They actually are kind of comfortable.”

Of course they are, boys. Of course they are.

Dylan Gette-King is a junior at Twindly Bridge Charter School.