ETSU’s Men As Allies program was launched this year as part of the Counseling Center’s OASIS programming. Men As Allies is part of a series of programs for both men and women on campus to address rape, sexual violence and relationship violence and to promote healthy sexuality.The program encourages males to take ownership of sexual violence against women as a men’s issue.

“It is a men’s issue because 95 percent of sexual violence is conducted by men,” explained Rebecca Alexander, OASIS program coordinator of the ETSU Counseling Center. “Men are in relationships with women who are either in danger of rape, sexual violence or relationship violence, or they are in relationships with women who have experienced it.”

The information provided through the Men As Allies program is intended to help combat passive violence as well.

Alexander defines passive violence as an individual’s refusal to accept responsibility for preventing sexual violence against another individual. To overcome passive violence, Alexander encourages males to employ bystander intervention.

“Someone who has completed training through the Men As Allies program would know how to step in as a bystander and support nonviolence when someone makes a derogatory comment or violent suggestion toward a woman,” Alexander said.

Alexander coordinates the program and trains men to speak to other men as facilitators. The workshops provide students with information, skills and opportunities to brainstorm ideas on how men can become part of the solution.

“We help to promote an interactive generation of empathy. After these workshops, men leave having learned that rape, sexual violence and relationship violence affects them, too,” Alexander said.

While communities have access to the statistics pertaining to sexual violence, Alexander believes that it is important for individuals to understand the statistics and not to take them out of context.

“Although men are responsible for 95 percent of sexual and relationship violence and rape, only one quarter of all men are actually committing this violence,” she said. “That means 75 percent of men out there are choosing to be safe and responsible.”

Students who complete Men As Allies training can sign a Pledge to Ending Relationship Violence. The pledge states that the signee acknowledges relationship violence as a problem and is committed to action over passivity. Men As Allies workshops are offered to classrooms, residence halls, fraternities and athletic groups. To schedule a workshop, students can contact Alexander at 423-439-4841 or alexanrl@etsu.edu.

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