Don McPherson, a former NFL quarterback and runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, urged men to appreciate their role in preventing sexual assault against women on campus Monday. The event, co-sponsored by the Interfraternity Council and the Dean of the College Office and held in Filene Auditorium, was part of a two-day visit, when McPherson spoke to a variety of groups on campus, including Mentors Against Violence, the presidents of Greek houses, athletes, coaches and campus administrators.
The event targeted new members of Greek organizations, with the hope that these organizations will bring the dialogue initiated by McPherson to their respective houses, said IFC President Alex Lentz '07.
"This is really a conversation we need to bring back to our organizations and something that we can take leadership in -- in changing our attitudes in how we define masculinity and confronting the community and the stereotypes that exist about Greek men," he said.
McPherson, who also spoke at orientation, was invited to return to Dartmouth with the goal that students would be able to relate to his background, as well as for the way in which he specifically targets men as necessary participants in the discussion on violence against women, Lentz said.
"Given his background and the unique way in which he addresses this issue as not just a women's issue, [he has shown that] it's a men's issue, and that there are concrete things that we can do," Lentz said.
Dr. Mark Reed, the College's director of counseling and health services, was also instrumental in bringing McPherson to campus. Because it is easy for men to ignore the problem, Dartmouth needs to create a culture where men feel comfortable speaking up, he said.
"Whenever any group on campus is affected, targeted, marginalized ... it usually falls to that community [that is] already hurt to rally some response," Reed said. "Men have the privilege of not having to think about [violence against women], of walking across campus at 2 a.m. and feeling relatively safe, so I personally have an interest in developing a community where we're all more connected."
McPherson emphasized the need for men to actively work to stop violence against women, likening the situation to the way in which white people were instrumental in ending slavery.
"If racism were a black issue, black people wouldn't be [at Dartmouth]. White people confronted other white people and slavery ended," he said.
The lack of discussion about sexual violence allows men to keep quiet and stay out of the discussion, but with men as the perpetrators of violence, it is necessary for them to be active in changing behaviors and expectations, McPherson said.
"We have to be honest about who the perpetrators are. Ninety percent of the violence against women is committed by men. ... All those different issues of violence against women are our issues as men as well."
Young people cannot be expected to make good decisions when they are not being given good information, McPherson said.
"In many cases around social issues, we give you no info or no honest information, and expect you to make good decisions," he said. "That's ridiculous."
McPherson ended his speech by drawing an analogy of a hypothetical college recruiter speaking to him as a black man -- pointing out the absurdity of the way sexual assault is dealt with.
"Don's going to have a great experience -- great coaches, strong academic support, great facilities, strong alumni, but we can't guarantee his safety," he said, imitating an imaginary recruiter. "There hasn't been any reported lynching recently but we do know that there's a problem. We have blue lights with telephones if he feels unsafe, and white men who have volunteered to walk him across campus if he feels threatened. Since we know it's happening, we have counselors on campus to help him deal if he's attacked."
McPherson said his parents would have refused to send him to the school given such unsubstantial measures being taken to combat lynching, yet those are the exact measures used on virtually every college campus across the country to combat violence against women.
"That scenario is ridiculous, and that is why it is so important that men be a part of this dialogue," he said.
