Safer is looking for a Men and Masculinity coordinator to head Safer’s Men and Masculinity Program and to address issues of masculinity in relation to sexual assault and gender-based violence.
This position is the first of its kind in the California State University (CSU) system, according to Safer Coordinator Kara Samaniego.
The coordinator will conduct educational outreach to greek life, athletes, the general student body and respondents — anyone from the campus community that has been accused of sexual misconduct.
The program is specifically targeted toward males because when talking about gender-based violence, particularly sexual assault, the focus tends to be on females, Samaniego said.
“We always look at what women do to not feel victimized,” Samaniego said.
Nearly ninety-nine percent of perpetrators that are arrested for gender-based violence are men, according to Samaniego.
“When looking at that statistic, we need to understand the parts of masculinity that are causing harm and address that,” Samaniego said.
The Men and Masculinity Program was created in 2011 by the Gender Equity Center. Safer has been overseeing the program ever since by providing a six-week Men and Masculinity Program — also called sexual misconduct training — where a facilitator works one on one with a referred student to talk about issues of masculinity, media and societal influences.
The university has provided funding for this position through the Student Success Fees (SSF), Samaniego said.
“It (the fact the university is providing funding via the SSF) shows the university’s commitment to ending gender-based violence and showing the unique situation that we have with a men and masculinity coordinator,” Samaniego said.
Interfraternity Council (IFC) President and business administration junior Danny Halprin is looking forward to working with the new coordinator on top of the already existing partnership IFC has with Safer.
“By breaking some of the problems down and specifically focusing on, ‘ok, how do males view these problems? What can I do to specifically target that demographic?’ I think will allow them (Safer) to create effective programming,” Halprin said.
Fraternities within IFC are required to have one member trained by Safer in matters regarding sexual assault. This member is also in charge of implementing Safer programming within the fraternity.
The Men and Masculinity coordinator position has yet to be filled.