A Student Organization for Everyone

Written by Gabby MassonPhotography by Noah Laroia-Nguyen Overwhelmed by the large amount of student organizations on UW’s campus (1,082 to be exact), I previously hadn’t participated in any student organizations, not knowing where to even start. However, the more time I spent on campus, the more I realized what issues mattered to me and, amidst the Harvey Weinstein scandals last fall, was restless to make a change. I knew my friend, Kelli Paluch, was very involved in the organization Men Against Sexual Assault (MASA), and she encouraged me to join, which I did. Now, more than a year later, she is the Vice President of MASA (previously “We’re Better Than That: Men Against Sexual Assault) and excitedly agreed to an interview with me about the organization. Immediately, she addressed the organization’s name change, stating that the previous “We’re Better Than That” had the potential of taking responsibility away from members. The organization wants every individual to take ownership of their actions, the actions of others, and work to actively end sexual violence.I asked Kelli for a brief description of the organization for those who have never heard of MASA. Founded in 2015, everything is based off their mission statement: “We aim to educate and engage the male student population to first recognize the issue of sexual violence as a humanitarian issue, to further acknowledge the role of men in this issue, to elevate women’s voices, and ultimately to shape men as ambassadors in the call to end sexual violence.” MASA wants a wider population to realize that sexual assault is not only a women’s issue, but everyone’s issue, and should be explored through peer conversation and self-reflection. MASA’s subcommittees were created around these ideas, evaluating different parts of students’ lives - greek life, athletics, college campus - that perpetuate and condone gender-based violence and thinking critically about how a change can be made regarding these aspects of society. So why should you care? In case you haven’t turned on the news for the past year, sexual violence is extremely relevant, making MASA particularly important (and unique) because of the emphasis on men. Men make up a large percentage of perpetrators of sexual violence, but the majority of men are not perpetrators. MASA is about these people, the majority of the population who are not perpetrators, using their voices to create a space that’s safer for everyone. Women have been fighting the issue of sexual assault for so long, but women cannot solve this problem on their own. MASA creates that comfortable space for men to find out how they can help and be part of the solution. I asked Kelli if there was anything else about the organization that she wanted people to know. She reiterated the mission statement, saying, “We are committed to elevating the voices of women, supporting survivors, and bringing men into the conversation of sexual assault...” but she also continued with, “...in a way that’s inviting and comfortable and safe. All are welcome, whether you’re just beginning your involvement and want to help combat sexual violence or have lots of knowledge on the topic. We’re more than just a club that talks about sexual assault on campus — we address all types of social issues, including racism, sexism, hypermasculinity, and gender norms. Something you learn as you come to more meetings is that all social issues are interconnected, and you can’t just talk about one exclusively without talking about all of them.”After joining MASA, I have not only met many amazing people, but have also learned tools for helping change a culture that affects us all. I leave the meetings with a smile on my face and hope because there are so many other people out there who want to make a change too. I now fully believe that we, as a campus and society, are fully capable of eliminating the toxic culture that allows and perpetuates sexual violence. We just all need to be given the tools to do so. For those interested in joining, MASA is always accepting general members. There are also opportunities for more involvement on the athletic team, greek team, and incoming students committee. MASA is also always looking to collaborate with other student organizations or individuals with creative ideas. Feel free to contact Kelli at kpaluch@wisc.edu with MASA related questions. For more information, visit the facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/wbttmasa/.  If you or a friend have experienced gender-based violence, you are not alone. There are resources available to help you. University Health Services Violence Prevention and Survivor Services: https://www.uhs.wisc.edu/vpss/The Rape Crisis Center: https://thercc.org/National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)“What to say and what not to say when someone tells you they have been sexually assaulted.” https://www.thelily.com/what-to-say-and-what-not-to-say-when-someone-tells-you-they-have-been-sexually-assaulted/