September 19, 2011
Campus group works to prevent violence
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Men working together to end male violence against women on campus and in the region is what Progressive Masculinities Mentors is all about.
The PMM group meets weekly at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and men from the University and the surrounding community are welcome. The weekly session is each Thursday at 7 p.m. in Rooms 111/112 at the Student Health Center.
The group formed in October 2007 to show support ending violence against women and children. About 15 men attended a gathering that was part of the Women’s Center’s Take Back the Night event and they quickly decided they wanted to continue meeting regularly to talk, educate others and work together to prevent violence by men against women and children.
Their weekly R.A.P. (Raising Awareness Proactively) sessions are popular among men from the University and community. Participants talk frankly about issues pertaining to men and traditional masculine norms. They’ve even expanded the group to welcome young men from middle and high school to the sessions during the fall and spring semester when school is in session.
PMM has more than 50 active members and has sponsored a number of events including campus and community-wide discussions, workshops for young men focusing on hip hop and violence prevention, and a Men Against Violence Week on campus featuring several special events.
For more information about the group, contact Derrick L. Williams at dlw10@siu.edu or contact Student Health Services at 618/536-4441.