On Tuesday, April 9, bare feet covered campus as students supported the TOMS One Day Without Shoes, sponsored by Institute for Civic Engagement and Student Housing.
To begin the day, activities began in the University Center at 10 a.m, with activities like the “Path Without Shoes,” showing students what it’s like to walk on gravel, pebbles and sand, and a footprint pledge, where students were able to put their paint footprint onto paper. Also, a walk around the Quad took place at 4 p.m.
This was the first year the event was campus-sponsored, with both Student Housing and ICE on board. Student Housing Hall Director, Elizabeth Williams, participated last year and thought that more people could get involved. She and ICE Program Coordinator Jessica Butkovic came together when planning other community service projects and decided to work ODWS together.
Even though TOMS has sponsored ODWS for years now, Williams said that this year, it seemed more widely-spread.
“I had individually participated in ODWS a few years ago. Not many others did that year that I saw. This year, I just saw it as a bigger event. I received emails from TOMS, and ODWS was included in one of them. I had never realized TOMS was the sponsor of ODWS until I looked further into it. This is actually their fifth year of sponsoring the event. They have done a great job of supplying free display and promotional materials for universities and organizations to use,” Williams said.
As for the purpose of the whole day, it’s about one thing – awareness.
“An event like this on the surface gives students an easy and fun way to get involved in something. But more importantly it helps them become more aware of people and situations beyond themselves. One student asked, ‘What about glass and stuff ?’ These are exactly the thoughts they should be having, but [they] should take it further and think about a child who can’t afford to ever wear shoes and how debilitating it could become. … It’s a great cause; it’s easy, and it sparks interesting and deeper conversation. We all need to be more aware and involved. We need to start showing we can do more than just buy a pair of TOMS because it’s trendy,” Butkovic said.
“I feel that [what is taken from the experience] is ultimately up to the student. I have already heard several discussions from people who think that not wearing shoes one day does nothing; it’s not until you take action that anything changes.
“I agree with that, but I also feel that something as simple as removing your shoes can have a big influence on your perspective of life. You realize that shoes are actually a luxury rather than something to be taken for granted. Sure, people will likely look at you funny, but then you can share with them the reason why you are doing this.
“It’s a bold way to bring awareness to a cause that many forget,” Williams said.
