2008 Woodie Awards
Class aims to stop gender abuse
Students encourage men to paint nails to raise awareness of violence
Hope Norman
Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: Campus
A kinesiology class is hoping that 1,600 Miami University men will paint at least one fingernail red to help raise awareness about violence committed by the gender April 14-16.
Kinesiology 385, "Contemporary Issues in Men's Health," taught by Reginald Fennell, professor of kinesiology and health, has focused stereotypes of men-especially in relation to violence.
"Every day, three women are killed by men that love them," Fennell said. "And every minute, four women are beaten by men that love them. Our class decided that it was time to have a conversation about violence."
That conversation led to "Operation Jungle Red: Embrace Your Inner Strength," a three-day event.
"We wanted to make a more non-traditional statement about how to stop the violence on campus," said senior Erica Keeney, co-chair of Operation Jungle Red. "The impact is that it's over a three day span, not a two-hour one-time thing."
Fennell said that he initially suggested the Jungle Red idea, but his students have made the concept their own.
"The students took my idea and have nourished and developed it so it's culminated in Operation Jungle Red," Fennell said.
April 16, the last day of the event, falls on the one-year anniversary of the Virginia Tech shootings where 32 students and faculty were killed. According to Fennell, one of the students in the class suggested the event be a memorial for the victims.
However, this event is not solely a Virginia Tech memorial. It is also to raise awareness for violence committed on all school campuses, including the Feb. 14 shooting at Northern Illinois University, according to Keeney.
Keeney also said the 1,600 participant goal comes from having 50 men participate for every one Virginia Tech victim.
As an enticement to reach that goal, the group has filed an application with the Guinness Book of World Records under the category "college men speaking out against violence."
"Men love competition," Keeney said. "This just gives a little more incentive to be in there for something so positive."
Kinesiology 385, "Contemporary Issues in Men's Health," taught by Reginald Fennell, professor of kinesiology and health, has focused stereotypes of men-especially in relation to violence.
"Every day, three women are killed by men that love them," Fennell said. "And every minute, four women are beaten by men that love them. Our class decided that it was time to have a conversation about violence."
That conversation led to "Operation Jungle Red: Embrace Your Inner Strength," a three-day event.
"We wanted to make a more non-traditional statement about how to stop the violence on campus," said senior Erica Keeney, co-chair of Operation Jungle Red. "The impact is that it's over a three day span, not a two-hour one-time thing."
Fennell said that he initially suggested the Jungle Red idea, but his students have made the concept their own.
"The students took my idea and have nourished and developed it so it's culminated in Operation Jungle Red," Fennell said.
April 16, the last day of the event, falls on the one-year anniversary of the Virginia Tech shootings where 32 students and faculty were killed. According to Fennell, one of the students in the class suggested the event be a memorial for the victims.
However, this event is not solely a Virginia Tech memorial. It is also to raise awareness for violence committed on all school campuses, including the Feb. 14 shooting at Northern Illinois University, according to Keeney.
Keeney also said the 1,600 participant goal comes from having 50 men participate for every one Virginia Tech victim.
As an enticement to reach that goal, the group has filed an application with the Guinness Book of World Records under the category "college men speaking out against violence."
"Men love competition," Keeney said. "This just gives a little more incentive to be in there for something so positive."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Daniel
posted 4/17/08 @ 3:54 AM EST
Awareness? Of what exactly? What exactly is the point of raising awareness for an issue that society is already acutely aware of? Don't get me wrong it's a nice gesture but it's just that, a gesture. (Continued…)
Darling
posted 4/22/08 @ 10:48 AM EST
Good intentions are great but what exactly is the point of this besides embarrass University students? I'm pretty sure this isn't going to lower domestic violence just because some people painted their nails pink! Couldn't they have done something more substantive instead of just drawing attention to themselves?
Post a Comment