Head over to Jezebel to read an article about the content and strategies used in college rape prevention programs. MAC’s focus is broader than rape prevention, but we were initially created with Department of Justice funding just like many of the groups in the article. The Jezebel article, cites the Chronicle of Higher Education article published last week regarding measuring the effectiveness of rape prevention programs. Both are interesting reads. They both bring up important topics to keep in mind when we are attempting to assess the impact of our work.
Category Archives: MAC resources
What are bystander interventions?
There have been several posts so far about bystander interventions. We even posted a successful bystander intervention in our post about the offensive t-shirts. (Take a look at that story and the attachments for a good intervention and response.) However, I thought I would take the time to explain what bystander interventions are and give an example of why bystanders are important. Since we are focused on preventing violence, I’ll limit the examples to witnessing or knowing about a situation that is inappropriate, offensive, harassing, violent or could potentially lead to violence. However, you could do a bystander intervention in any situation where you are concerned about someone. (i.e. abusing alcohol, suicidal gestures, disordered eating, etc.)
In most situations, the majority of bystanders are silent. Most of us have never been taught how or why to intervene. We’ve never been shown how we can make a difference or why our voice is important. Even in situations where we know something is wrong, there is a strong reaction to mind our own business and look the other way. However, every member of the community has a responsibility to respond to problems that affect the community. Violence in our community is not going to be solved by solely providing services to victims. It’s not going to be solved by mandating treatment to perpetrators. We need to spend time focusing on the majority of the community, the bystanders and witnesses. It is also not going to be solved in women’s center or domestic violence shelters. Those people are already doing the heavy lifting. We need everyone, men included, to get involved.
The only goal you have as a bystander is to send a message. You cannot control other people’s behavior or language. It’s not your job. The only thing you can control is your reaction. Research, and personal experience, have shown that perpetrators of violence perceive silence and passivity as agreement. They overestimate the degree to which everyone agrees with what they are doing. If we remain passive and silent, we are sending a message to perpetrators and potential perpetrators that whatever we just witnessed is acceptable or at the very least, no one will step forward to stop or challenge them. So let me give a clear cut example of a violent behavior and the power of a single bystander. Continue reading
Campus and Community Resources
If you are looking for domestic violence, sexual assault, or other social services and resources in Johnson County/Iowa City/University of Iowa campus, please refer to our resource list. Even the national organizations can transfer you to a facility in your county or city. I’ll update this list as often as possible.
MAC Mentors workshop
The Men’s Anti-Violence Council has a mentor workshop available for anyone who works with high school or college aged men. The purpose of the workshop is to create discussions about navigating masculinity and for men to create relationships with other men and boys in their life. MAC mentor workshop
For every girl poster
These were on sale at the St. John’s conference last week and I thought it was a great modernization of the original Nancy Smith poem. We have the originial in the MAC manual but I may include this instead. There is a front and back. Take a look at both. They are available free for download at crimethinc.com or you can access them below.
MAC Calendar
Here is a link to the MAC Calendar of events and meetings. There will also be a page tab at the top of the site to link you to the calendar.
From the roots up…
Chuck Derry and Ed Heisler presented a great workshop at the St. John’s conference on gender equality and anti-violence. The piece of their presentation that stuck with me was in regards to the idea that “Violence, specifically domestic violence and rape, has always been around. We can’t change what’s always been.” Chuck’s presentation spoke about how that is not true. For thousands of years, native tribes whose cultures were built on non-violence beliefs did not have these issues.
Anti-violence resources
Check out our Resources page for lists of resources, movies, books and media campaigns used and created by MAC. It is updated daily so check back and you might find something useful. Got a good resource? mention it below and we’ll add it to the list.
Here is an example of a social marketing campaign that MAC created. It was distributed throughout all the residence halls, campus buses, box office and over 100 downtown businesses displayed these in their windows. Check out the Resources page for the other two posters.
YouTube clip of MAC
Here is a YouTube clip of me, Jerrod Koon talking about MAC’s work with a local news station.
