The Gender Equity Center and Interfraternity Council hosted the annual Men Against Violence Walk to get students involved in violence prevention efforts and play a positive role in creating change.
Registration for the event began at 1:30 p.m. on the HUB-Robeson Lawn Sunday, with stations for people to check in, receive a free t-shirt and create signs for the march. At 2 p.m. the keynote speeches began.
Ryan Zimmerman, director for this year’s MAV Walk, said he felt inspired to take a leadership role in planning this event because sexual violence is an issue that’s overlooked and ignored on campus.
“Fostering a community where everyone feels heard and respected is very important,” Zimmerman, a third-year studying aerospace engineering, said.
For Zimmerman, the walk is an opportunity to show survivors of sexual violence that they have a community to turn to for support.
“It’s really cool that we get to provide support for (survivors of violence in such a communal way, and I can’t wait to see what we do next year,” Zimmerman said.
Adam, a student who wished to remain anonymous, said he felt a sense of pride participating in the march as a member of the IFC.
“It’s disappointing that gender equity is still an argued topic in today’s society, and I believe that we should continue to stand with women,” Adam said.
Participants of the walk could be seen walking around campus in bright blue t-shirts, holding signs with encouraging words for survivors.
