Men's center to be a safe space

Center a place for all to discuss issues of gener, sexuality

What does it mean to be a man?

This was the question behind the planning meeting of the Oberlin Men's Center on Thursday night. The group of eight men and three women gathered to take the preliminary steps toward a space where all people could think and discuss issues of gender masculinity and sexuality.

The planning group will submit their charter for ratification for next year in the fall. The charter lists trained counselors, opportunities for inter-generational male mentoring, a men's studies library and a resource for all-male organizations on campus as goals of the center.

The group eventually hopes to get an actual physical space for the center. The group suggested language to distinguish the physical space of a Men's Center from Zeke, the all-male dorm on campus.

"There is a difference between a dorm and a center dedicated to education and outreach," a participant said.

The center would also facilitate speakers, address issues of sexual assault and hold discussion groups. It would also act as a lobbying group on campus to further the goals of men. For example, sophomore Vince Higdon said one of his personal goals was to get an all-male living co-op. He expressed hopes that people from the Men's Center would help him in this effort.

The Sexual Assault Support Team and the Sexual Information Center (SIC) both had representatives at the meeting to express their support. SIC is sponsoring the fledgling group, paying for copying and other organizational start-up costs until the group gets its charter. Members of the group at the meeting were divided, though, on the amount of emphasis the Center should place on men's sexuality and sexual health.

Citing the difference between the men's movement and women's liberation, sophomore Andrew Shapiro said, "To take our cue from the sexual-issues focus of the women's movement might not satisfy the needs of men on this campus."

Instead, Shapiro stressed the need for a space in which to discuss the men's movement in relation to the feminist movement and the "female swing" on Oberlin's campus. Other individuals in the group also acknowledged the feminist-leaning of the College.

The planning group did repeatedly emphasize the need to maintain an open dialogue with the campus community. There was a clear understanding of the potential hostility that they may face as they lobby for funding and physical space.

David Markowitz, a sophomore and a co-chair of the planning group, hopes that the group will be able to work with the Women's Resource Center that is underway for next year.

"The formation of the Men's Center is not in opposition to or even because of the Women's Resource Center," he said. "There should be a place on campus where people can discuss men's issues and what it means to be a man, especially in today's society."