The Associate Students of New Mexico State University hosted a Stride for Safety Walk to show support and spread awareness of domestic violence during Sexual Assault Awareness and Protection Month on April 8. Students from across the campus could be seen marching and donning the color of SAAM, teal blue, which is associated with healing and trust.
Participants gathered at the Pistol Pete statue outside of Corbett Center, where they marched to the end of the horseshoe before looping back around and ending back at the statue. The crowd was full of teal, from T-shirts to balloons, all demonstrating the march’s intent to bring light to domestic sexual violence.
The march was a part of ASNMSU’s scheduled events for April, with each one addressing the issue of sexual assault. This year, the events were organized by Makayla Grinnan, an associate justice of ASNMSU’s Supreme Court.
“Doing a lot more public service events and things like that, it’s a topic I feel very strongly about with domestic violence,” Grinnan said. “I knew firsthand a lot of survivors of such events, and I think bringing as much awareness as I possibly can to things like that [is] just the best work I could be doing.”
Many students came not only to spread awareness, but to support the people in their lives directly impacted by domestic sexual violence. NMSU student, Jena Johannes, said she went to the event to show support for her sister.
“Some people don’t feel comfortable to talk about [domestic sexual violence], or they don’t want to,” Johannes said. “They want to keep it quiet so that other people aren’t influenced to [look at them differently]. Or maybe they’re just scared and there’s not enough support for them.”
Throughout the event, there was a constant theme of empowerment for survivors of domestic sexual violence, with many campus support groups sponsoring the event and getting the word out on the resources the school has available. At the end of the walk, many of these sponsors had booths where participants could easily access information on the services they provide.
“I think it’s also just a good thing for victims to know that they’re not alone and that there’s a good support system for them if they need it,” said Annie Beus, one of the students at the march. “It makes a good community overall, especially because this is a big issue in colleges.”
Student athlete, Caetlyn Johannes, explained the importance of public events like the Stride for Safety, and how a visual message is needed for each person.
“It’s very easy to talk about it and hear about it in our everyday lives, but it doesn’t sometimes go past some people’s comprehension,” Johannes said. “They’re not able to understand the true message when it’s only given to them, and verbally, when it’s seen and heard, it’s stronger. This visual that it creates is so much more impactful than just a message when you hear it.”
