University Men’s Health Team works toward change
■ Despite strong support
for a Men’s Center, the idea is
still hindered by stereotypes
and misconceptions
By Katie Ellis
Oregon Daily Emerald
A small group of people have a
long-term vision: a University Men’s
Center to provide male students with
information and support on issues
such as depression, academic diffi
culty and personal fitness.
But immediate efforts are concen
trated on gaining further student
support and receiving recognition
as a student organization.
The University Men’s Health
Team has organized a variety of ac
tivities to further the center’s devel
opment. The team has already com
pleted various activities, including
a presentation on men’s issues at a
recent crisis prevention conference,
training on men’s issues and inter
ventions with professional coun
selors. The group also holds weekly
meetings addressing men’s personal
issues. Representatives from the
University health, counseling and
student activities centers held a
Men’s Center organizational meet
ing Tuesday. Two University stu
dents and an ASUO representative
also attended to hear the center’s
progress report.
During the meeting, George
Hanawahine, graduate teaching fel
. low at the University Counseling
Center, reviewed the results of a stu
dent survey of 260 male and female
students. Hanawahine said he was
pleased with the overall results.
“I think the survey is a positive
endorsement for the Men’s Center,”
Hanawahine said. “I’m also very
pleased with the variety of sampling
in the survey and I think it was a
good reflection of what our campus
looks like.”
After discussing the results of the
survey, the meeting focused on how
to gain greater support and endorse
ment from the student body.
Lach Litwer, Bean complex resi
dent assistant, said there is strong
support for a Men’s Center, but the
idea is hindered by social stereo
types and preconceptions.
“My interactions with students
lead me to believe there is great
need and support for a Men’s Cen
ter,” Litwer, a sophomore in psy
chology, said. “But I think the
biggest obstacle is fighting the pre
conceptions of what people think
men need and want. ”
Jon Davies, counseling and testing
center psychologist, echoed Litwer
and said stereotypes and misconcep
tions are the leading reasons men do
not seek the help they need.
“We found the No. 1 reason that
men do not seek help is because of so
cial stigmas,” Davies said. “Asking
for help is considered shameful.”
Davies discussed the history of
the project and said the idea for the
center originated after the Universi
ty’s Men’s Health Team conducted
five years of research on the per
ceived health needs of male Univer
sity students. The research high
lighted barriers for males who seek
help and offered suggestions to help
male students.
“Our research suggested that
having a men’s center would be
helpful for men who seek those
services,” Davies said. “As a re
sult, males would lead a more
healthy lifestyle.”
For further information please con
tact George Hanawahine at 346-2770.
E-mail reporter Katie Ellis
at katieellis@dailyemerald.com.
FEATURES
Zut alors! The French can rap
■ French rap and hip-hop artist
MC Solaar gains international
popularity with his recent album
called ‘Cinquieme As’
Artist ‘Cinquieme’
Elektra Entertainment
★★★★★
By Jen West
Oregon Daily Emerald
For many American audiences,
putting the words “French” and
“rap” together in a sentence often
results in amused snickers. But the
language of love also has an edge,
as leading French rap and hip-hop
artist MC Solaar proves in his latest
album, “Cinquieme As,” released
on Elektra Entertainment.
Born in Dakar, Senegal, and
raised in Cairo and Paris, MC So
laar’s creative lyrics, haunting
melodies and solid rhythms make
“Cinqueme As” (translated as Fifth
Ace) enjoyable for Francophones
and international audiences alike.
The album was released in France
in 2001 and recently released in the
United States.
Through his music, MC Solaar
often uses wonderful imagery and
plays on words to tell sad stories of
disheartened people floating
through the French mainstream.
The song “Solaar Pleure” (Solaar
Weeps), played almost non-stop on
French radio stations last year, is a
kind of eulogy telling of the death
of MC Solaar and a battle between
good and evil. The song is his last
will and testament, and he acts as a
kind of messiah or messenger to the
people. He sacrifices himself, hop
ing that his death will send the
message to kids to know the differ
ence between what is true or false.
Solaar dies and goes to heaven,
but because of his crimes on Earth,
the archangel casts him into hell.
Instead of accepting his fate, he
calls on St. Theresa, Buddha and
other biblical characters to wage
war against the “Satanic Liar.” With
Solaar’s repentance and tears, they
destroy the devil, only to have him
re-emerge on Earth.
MC Solaar offers an English ver
sion of “Solaar Pleure” on the al
bum, but it does not flow as elo
quently in English as it does in
French. Many of the expressions he
uses in the French version are diffi
cult to accurately translate into
English. But when he relaxes into
his native tongue, the words flow
from him like gospel.
“jHasta la Vista Mi Amor!” also
raced to the top of the French mu
sic charts last year. Sung in Span
ish, it has an infectious beat that
will set listeners’ bodies bumping.
The language barrier may pre
vent some understanding of the sto
ries woven into these songs, but it
cannot hold up against the hip-hop
rhythms. “Cinqueme As” contin
ues to gain international populari
ty because audiences in any lan
guage can enjoy the music.
Even those listeners who have to
sing along to the music can simply
skip to track 7. The entire chorus is
“la la la, la ... la la la, la.”
E-mail reporter Jen West
at jenwest@dailyemerald.com.
Men's Center survey results
The University Men's Health Team surveyed 260 students.
The purpose of the survey was to assess student interest in the addition of a Men’s Center on campus.
1 Strongly agree 2 Somewhat agree 3 Agree 4 Disagree 5 Somewhat Disagree 6 Strongly disagree
} am m support of the development of a Men’s Center:
Male wmmmmmmmmmmmmmm 2,19
Female mmmmmmmmm 1.5
Average 1.87
I know men who would benefit from a Men’s Center:
Male 2.31
Female mmmmmmmmmmmmm 2.10
Average mmmrnmmmmmmmmmmm 2.22
2.66
2.20
2.45
I believe women would benefit from a Men’s Center;
Mate ..Hill
Female
Average
I think student fees should be used to fund a Men’s Center:
Male mmmmmmmmmsmmmKmmmmmmBKmmmam 2.79
Female mmmmmmmmmmmmammm 2.39
Average mbmmbwbbiiiwiiiiii hiiiiwimii—ihmb—8; 2.60
SOURCE: Men’s Health Team Student Survey
Today’s crossword solution
UO Ticket Office
EMU: 346-4363
, N.xll.Mn Hult Center- 682-5000
if _ UT Box Office: 346-4191
(l).ivs of IVrforimvs only)
Comic News
NEED CASH ?
We buy used texts and other good books
throughout the year
768 East 1 3th 525 Willamette
(541) 345-1651 (541) 343-4717
one block from U of O near the Post Office
www.smithfamilybookstore.com
International Student Association presents an evening with
Dishes + 11 Performances from around the world -
: April 14th,
5 pm+6pm,
EMU Skylights
lance: 7:30pm,
EMU »*«■**-«•*
Available at t.
Ticket Office
$ 11 - General Public
$8 - Students / Children
under 12
Free - Children under 3 Threading Our