Juliann Guiffre
Co-Editor-in-Chief
Teams of McDaniel faculty, staff and students gave new meaning to “procession” on Saturday, Sept. 12. Decked in women’s shoes, team members wobbled and hobbled around Dutterer Park in Westminster until they had clocked in one mile.
Their efforts garnered more than $2,000 for the local Rape Crisis Intervention Services (RCIS) during the nonprofit organization’s first annual “Walk A Mile In Her Shoes” fundraiser.
Despite a morning drizzle, the event lured approximately 300 people to Dutterer Park. McDaniel teams had the most impressive showing, Janice Kispert, the CEO for Rape Crisis, told the crowd.
Momentum for the college community’s participation grew weeks before the event. The local paper splashed a front page photo of faculty team members Jim Kunz, Leroy Panek, Herb Smith, Eric Bird, Jose Flores and Henry Reiff. (Joe Dressel and MaxJulian Ham also walked with the team on Saturday).
“I was inspired to get involved because of the students in my social work class who are part of are apart of the Social Work Action Team,” said Kunz. When the class hit his challenge for them to raise $50, Kunz (wo)maned up and taught Friday’s class in shiny red heels.
Campus Safety Director Mike Webster sported high heeled black shoes. Other campus safety officers donned gold flip flops, sparkly pink shoes and what Dean Reiff identified as shoes that were “classy risqué.”
“These boots are two sizes too small, but I’ll walk a mile before the race,” said Andrew Rauch before the race.
But when he hobbled across the finish line he hollered, “Oh, it hurts so bad.” RCIS provides free counseling and support services to victims of sexual violence and their families. It also offers prevention education programs and professional training in order to eliminate sexual violence.
