For years, there’s been a war between the sexes on how men should behave. Everyone has an opinion on the topic, but no one has any answers that could help any of these misguided creatures.

Now, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is leading the way in ending this debate with a new student organization: the Men’s Resource Center.

The MRC is enjoying its first semester at UWM. It is the first organization of its kind in the UW System.

What this organization is supposed to do is to help promote solidarity between men through social events, education and charity work.

“What I hope this organization does is keep men educated in not only how to be a gentleman, but on how to help better their lives and the lives of those around them,” said founder and President Tim Mentkowski.

One example on how the MRC plans to help keep solidarity between men is to infuse them into various social events that will help them learn how to socialize properly with other individuals — and without the aid of alcohol.

By doing this, Mentkowski feels that the organization can curb alcohol abuse prominent on college campuses because of social awkwardness, but it will also help men learn interaction skills that are valuable for the rest of their lives.

Volunteering is also a large aspect of the MRC. Planned events include helping winterize elderly peoples’ homes and fund-raising to help fight diseases that are prominent in men’s health issues.

Mentkowski feels that the most important aspect of the organization is to help educate men on problematic issues such as safe sexual practices, anger management, alcohol abuse and domestic abuse.

“These issues affect everyone,” he said. “If men are better educated on how to deal with them, it will make things better for everyone.”

With open arms

One of the things that make the MRC different is that it is an inclusive organization. Everyone can join, even women.

There are three women out of the 15 members that currently make up the MRC. “I think it’s wonderful,” said Kati Tillema. “An organization like this can help men realize that they’re emotionally different than women … but at the same time, they can realize that women are their equals and they will then treat them like equals.”

The MRC’s goal is to be as inclusive as possible, aiding the organization from being attached with the stigma that people have by associating them with a fraternity.

Members have no qualms with fraternities, but at the same time they stress that they are anything but a fraternity.

“A fraternity is an exclusive club,” Mentkowski said. “What we’re trying to do is to work with other student orgs including frats, in a hope to gel them all together.”

The MRC encourages participation in other student organizations, and they hope to be a resource to anyone who wants to join one of them.

Members said that they hope to form an alliance with some of the other on-campus organizations, most importantly the Women’s Resource Center.

MRC members hope that the two organizations can work together on many aspects that hinder both genders in order to make their members stronger.

The Men’s Resource Center currently has no office, but are doing tabling events in the Union.

By getting their membership up, they hope to get office allocation in the spring from the Student Association.

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