MEDIA RELEASE

Cal State Northridge Supports The Men’s March

(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., April 9, 2008) — There is an old saying: "You can’t truly understand a person until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes."

The Men’s March, co-sponsored by Cal State Northridge’s Valley Trauma Center, literally asks men to walk a mile in women’s high-heels to shed light on gender relations and sexual violence.

Men will lead the march followed by women and children in an effort to stop rape, sexual assault and gender violence on Saturday, April 26, at the Sherman Oaks Galleria on the corner of Ventura Boulevard and Sepulveda Avenue in Sherman Oaks. Pre-march activities will begin at 10 a.m. with the mile-walk to follow at noon.

"Essentially, the march reveals that many men are deeply concerned about the rape and sexual assault of women and girls and are willing to make a public statement to demonstrate their concern," said educational psychology and counseling professor Charlie Hanson, executive administrator of the Valley Trauma Center. "Our march is for these men to stand up with women and girls to show our concern for them and show our commitment to the notion that rape must stop."

According to Hanson, the Sexual Assault Response Team at CSUN’s Valley Trauma Center sees an average of more than 70 cases each month at the hospital. More than half of these are children and 90 percent are female.

"These statistics represent only 20 percent of the actual rapes and assaults that occur, as we know most go unreported," he said. "Such statistics are repugnant and abhorrent to me as they exhibit a social disease that is out of control in our communities, a disease that tears the hearts of girls and women and the men and boys who love them."

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Valley Trauma Center, which provides counseling and treatment services to adults and juvenile victims of sexual assault, molestation and harassment.

"We know through the march that women and young girls in our communities come to know that men take a strong stand against rape, sexual assault and violence of all types perpetrated on women and girls. These are men who care about women and who work to end all gender violence," said Hanson.

High heels are recommended for men and are available upon request. For more information, call Hanson at (818) 677-4013 or e-mail walkamileinhershoes@hotmail.com. Participants can pre-register at www.walkamileinhershoes.org.