Men for Change: Group to discuss men's issues

The University of Richmond's Women Involved in Living and Learning program strives to educate its members on gender and its relation to sexuality, race, class and culture, according to its Web site. Senior Warin Henry's new group, UR Men for Change, is providing a forum for the men on campus to do the same.

Henry intended to start this group two years ago, but it never got off the ground. During winter break, he decided to get the group moving again.

For inspiration, Henry participated in the Allies Institute, a four-day retreat that was held in Richmond the week before spring classes began.

"[The program] deals with issues of gender, race, class and sexual orientation," Henry said. "These are issues that aren't really talked about on the Richmond campus."

The Allies Institute works in collaboration with the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, holding interactive workshops, small group discussions and exercises to help its participants have greater insight into issues of social justice.

As a result of the Allies Institute, four action groups - focusing on race, gender, class and sexual orientation - were created, said Jean-Pierre Laurenceu-Medina, the associate director of multicultural affairs. Laurenceu-Medina served as an adviser to the group focused on sexual orientation, while Henry helped to advise the group focused on gender issues.

UR Men for Change will put all of these ideas together in one forum for discussion, Laurenceu-Medina said.

Henry explained his inspiration for starting the group: "Guys I had spoken with basically said they wanted to see [a program] for men on this campus where we could voice our opinions on things and where we could discuss issues -- whether it be class, whether it be race, whether it be how we treat women, or how we are seen or perceived," he said. "With this group, I'm just trying to have this open forum where guys can get together and talk about these things."

Glyn Hughes, director of Common Ground, also helped Henry establish the group.

"Warin wanted [UR Men for Change] to not just be a particular clique, but diverse itself so that different male perspectives would be involved," Hughes said.

Hughes described the creation of the group as "bottom-up."

"It's not like the president said, 'Warin, I want you to head a group and here are the nominees.' That's top-down," he said.

The group is currently having conversations about what it should be and how it is going to continue, Hughes said.

If Henry has a solid group of committed members, he said he would like to speak with the staff of Richmond College to see where he can take the group.

"If [UR Men for Change] is something that we want to be similar to WILL," Laurenceu-Medina said, "then I think Richmond College would help with that process."

As a graduating senior, Henry said he hoped to find members who would sustain the group and help it to grow.

"Even if it's just seven or eight guys that are committed to this, you know, that's still better than 30 or 40 people who couldn't care less, but who just show up anyway," Henry said.

Henry said he hoped that down the road the group would be able to have speakers and discussions about topics like social justice, financial responsibility and dating.

"I would hope that, whether it be two or three years from now, that this group grows into something where men, no matter what they identify themselves as, can come to this and feel comfortable expressing their opinions," Henry said. "From that, you build alliances with people and you can go out and do things and you can sponsor projects."

UR Men for Change will meet in the Tyler Haynes Commons at 8:30 p.m. Sunday nights.

Contact reporter Ryan Clark at ryan.clark@richmond.edu