This week’s Campus Celebrity is a group of campus athletes gathering to change the misconceptions and acceptance of violence between males. Founded in September of 2004 by Professor Sandy Caron, MAAV continues to grow each year, both on campus and in the Orono community. With each year comes a new group of Male Athletes Against Violence from varying sports, all working toward breaking the stereotype that male athletes are generally violent men. This semester’s student campus coordinator, Spencer Wood, further describes MAAV’s mission on campus:
” Violence is a way of asserting power, privilege, and control. Men perpetrate the majority of violence, and yet this issue is usually framed as a “woman’s issue.” Change will come when we challenge the social norms and institutions that actively or implicitly condone and promote violence. MAAV is an effort to involve men so that we can begin to understand that violence is very much a “man’s issue” as well. Our goal is to create healthy, positive changes in our community and state. We use our athletic influence to challenge and change the acceptance of violence. “
You can find them in the Union giving away delicious bake goods baked by MAAV members. In the next few weeks they will be presenting anti-violence workshops in the dorms around campus. Each year MAAV holds a week-long event called the White Ribbon Campaign where wearing a white ribbon is a personal pledge never to commit, condone nor remain silent about violence against women. Also look for the MAAV posters around campus, get to know their faces, and say hello when you see them!
If any organization or group would like to get involved with MAAV or would like them to attend a function, please don’t hesitate to email Spencer Wood on First Class or Sandra Caron (sandy.caron@umit.maine.edu).
This years members, athletic team, and class are as follows:
Spencer Wood – Football – MAAV Coordinator
Erwin Roach – Football – Junior and assistant coordinator
Troy Russell – Football – Senior
Day Thomas – Football – Senior
Mike Connolly – Baseball – Sophomore
Alasdair Fraser – Basketball – Junior
Dan Sullivan – Ice Hockey – Junior
Stu Higgins – Ice Hockey – Sophomore
Travis Wibby- Diving- Junior
Trevor England- Track- Senior
LIKE THE MAAV FACEBOOK PAGE and look for upcoming dates and times of appearances.