So you walked a mile in our shoes, now what? As you giggled with your fraternity brothers about your new look, did you really listen to the speaker? Or will you ignore the issue again tomorrow?

Last night, I attended the Walk A Mile in Her Shoes event and was saddened to see that many men showed up, but few were actually there. The event brought in various organizations from the community to educate students on domestic violence, sexual assault and abuse, but sadly, these resources were hardly utilized.

To the fraternity men that continued to talk while Mary Doyle of YWCA spoke about the importance of the issue and the need for change, I noticed. You clearly did not get the point of the event and certainly did not represent your fraternity well.

You ran in high-heels, but do you really understand what women go through? Or did you just get a few great photos for Facebook?

I am curious as to what would make this topic real to the men participating in the walk. Knowing one in four women will be assaulted while in college is not enough?

What if it was your mother, your sister, your girlfriend? Would she feel comfortable telling you? If you put faces with the jokes you make and the issues you brush aside, would it matter then?

It should. Odds are one of them will be affected by sexual violence in her lifetime and the fact is, many women in your life already have been. The shame and the stigma associated with domestic violence and sexual assault keeps many women from ever reaching for help or reporting the crime.

So you walked a mile in our shoes, now walk a few more and challenge yourself, and others, to continue the fight against gender violence.