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Photos by Photo by Steven Holguin / Cuestonian Staff Photographer

By Holly Walsh
Life & Culture Editor

In honor of sexual assault awareness month, students, faculty, and staff gathered in the Cuesta courtyard to take part in the international men’s march to end rape, sexual assault & gender violence.

The international event was localized by professor Bailey Drechsler and her psychology and human sexuality classes. This year marks the second consecutive Cuesta College walk.

Multiple tubs of high heels in all lengths, sizes, and colors were available for the men to wear for a one mile walk around Cuesta’s campus.

Drechsler explained the importance of doing the walk is educating the community in realizing that sexual assault is a cross gender issue, and so that survivors of sexual assault feel supported by their community.

“People think they care about what happened to them just by doing the march and survivors know that we won’t stay silent about these issues,” Drechsler said.

Biba Kirschner, a Cuesta student, recognized that sexual assault isn’t a gender specific issue and thinks that it is very important for people from all walks of life to take part in awareness against sexual violence.

“A lot of people see rape as a women’s issue and it should really be viewed as anyone’s issue,” Kirschner said.

Robert Headley was one of many of the men who attended the walk sporting a pair of women’s high heels. He believes that it is very important for men to join in sexual assault marches because men are majority of times the perpetrator.

“Men are the ones that need to be educated at a young age to end sexual violence,” Headley said.

Both men and women marches waved posters that said “alcohol is not consent,” as well as, “walk a mile in her shoes and end rape, sexual assault, and gender based violence.”

Colton Heinemann, a Cuesta student, shared the opinion that men can bring awareness to sexual assault by taking part in events like the Cuesta College Walk.

“Getting men out in the front lines and showing their support is huge to bringing to awareness,” Heinemann said.