Some Greek organizations at UNC are teaming up with other campus organizations to march against sexual assault this evening.

Organizers say it’s an attempt to get people together in one place, to have conversations they don’t normally have together.

“We really think this is an extremely important issue – not only on UNC’s campus, but on college campuses all over the country,” said Michael Catalano, the vice president of the Sigma Phi fraternity at UNC. “And we, as a fraternity, want to take a stand and show that sexual assault is unacceptable, and that we are taking a stand against it.”

“Walk a Mile” will take place Thursday evening at 6, beginning at the Old Well, and proceeding around both quads on UNC’s campus.

Participants will carry signs, and some will read survivor stories and testimonials.

After a quick dinner, participants will break off into discussion groups, led by facilitators from One Act.

“One Act is a group on campus that, basically, leads training sessions on how to intervene and deal with cases of sexual assault, and also how to talk to and work with survivors afterward,” said Catalano.

Organizers hope to draw around 300 people to the event.

Andrew Brennen, the service and philanthropy chair of Sigma Phi, says the march is in response to a general culture that fails to show enough support to survivors of sexual assault on campus.

And it addresses some unpleasant statistics about university life.

“Fraternity men are three times more likely to commit sexual assault than other college-age men,” said Brennen, “and being a part of a fraternity, that number kind of, you know, embarrasses me.”

In addition, Brennen cites the statistic that one-in-five women are sexually assaulted on college campuses. Again, he says it’s something his fraternity finds embarrassing, and disgusting.

Catalano said it will be the first UNC philanthropy event co-hosted by members of all four Greek councils. Three Greek organizations from each council are sponsoring the walk.

Carolina Advocating for Gender Equality is also co-sponsoring the event.

Registration for the walk is taking place in the Pit throughout the day. The cost is $5, which also covers a barbecue dinner.

T-shirts will cost $15. All proceeds from the event go to the Orange County Rape Crisis Center. Registration can also be completed through a link on the Walk a Mile event page on Facebook.

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