“My core concern on campus as it relates to the male experience is that it’s largely avoidant,” said Brian Wierman, business professor and co-chair of Westminster faculty’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council.
Wierman hosted the Men’s and Allies Studies Workshop on Thursday, Feb 6. Wierman was the only male in attendance, with a small turnout.
This led to a more intimate roundtable discussion on student engagement and male allyship on campus amongst attendants.
Wierman said many male students are “ not opposed to diversity, equity and inclusion, not opposed to progressive ideas, but at best generally will avoid it and consider it to be somebody else’s discussion.”
“ [When] the word patriarchy is used…a sophisticated term…you need to know something about feminism and have some background,” Wierman said.
Wierman warned that men without that background knowledge can easily misunderstand the discussion, and assume that they are not welcome and should avoid these spaces.
“[That] avoidance becomes alienation, and then alienation becomes a proclivity to seek out reactionary politics and spaces…that definitely concerns me,” Wierman said.
“All of us are feeling the weight of male radicalization in one way or another,” said Kathryn Burgis, an MBA student who was in attendance.
They discussed how to engage men on campus with DEI initiatives to prevent further radicalization.
“While we have [DEI] we need to make a fucking effort,” Burgis said in reference to HB-261 and the current defunding and persecution of DEI. “Discourse has to be fostered.”
Burgis said faculty is “one of Westminster’s best assets” because they have the power to promote events and encourage their students to participate.
“Finding leaders within the student body and pushing them to come” is important in addition to partnering with staff and faculty, Burgis said.
Weirman said he plans to hold more events about this issue in the future.
