Some things leave me speechless…almost. Once in a great while I am privileged to participate in something of major importance. I am proud to announce that the National Coalition for Men has established its first chapter on a university campus. To my knowledge we are the first full-fledged Men’s Rights organization to establish a chapter at a major university.
NCFM University Ambassador and Montana Chapter President, Chris Thompson, is primarily responsible for this extraordinary achievement. If we had ten Chris Thompsons we could populate university campuses around the country with NCFM chapters in less than a decade.
Chris reports that he has over 50 chapter members and the number is growing. He stages regular information tabling events, speaks to groups, and disseminates information about Men’s Rights (or the absence thereof), gender inequalities, NCFM, and other like-minded organizations.
Chris is working with other groups to remedy a recent U.S. Department of Education directive that removed due process protections at universities for those accused of sexual harassment or assault.
In September Chris staged two events and helped raise funds for breast cancer and testicular cancer research. He’s also the state coordinator for another like-minded organization doing important domestic violence legislative reform work at national and state levels.
It took a while for us to get the chapter established in Montana but once we had state recognition Chris parlayed it into the campus chapter. I recall his early discussions with campus administrators, the support he initially had from one adviser, and then less supportive talks as things progressed. No matter, he stayed the course and overcame whatever administrative hurdles and opposition he encountered.
He also enlisted the aid and support of Professor Miles Groth of Wagner College and one of the founders of the American Men’s Study Association. Mr. Groth is an advocate for the establishment of such organizations on university campuses since they can be a precursor to establishing Male Studies programs. He has been involved for decades in the Male Studies movement. The opportunity now exists at Montana State University to offer Male Studies courses.
Like other universities Montana State University has been largely influenced by over thirty years of feminist ideology. Such influence went unchallenged for years. No counterbalance existed. Feminists insisted all other teachings were His-[s]tory. Criticism of the ideology was not only discouraged but radical professors and their supporters rallied to discredit any opposition. Early gender researcher Suzanne Steinmetz published her book The Battered Husband Syndrome not long after the first Women Studies program launched at the San Diego State University in 1970. Many of her peers, Women Studies professors, and radical feminists jeered her, threatened to kill her, tried to destroy her career, and harassed her until she bowed out of the debate. She was just the first of many to be harassed by such ideologues. Hence, the silencing of opposing voices assured that virtually every aspect of our educational systems and outcomes thereof became skewed by entrenched anti-male administration and curriculums.
Hence, the establishment of a Men’s Rights organization at a major university is no small feat. It is truly an accomplishment with historic implications. For it to be a chapter of NCFM is simply extraordinary.
Thank you all, those I know who helped accomplish this, and those I hope to someday meet. And, thank you Chris Thompson for holding a steady course and making this possible. Thanks should also go to the thousands of NCFM members who since the inception of our organization have made this possible by helping educate America and the world that we need to rid ourselves of harmful gender based stereotypes, especially as they adversely impact men, their families, and those that love them.
You can follow the chapter on Facebook.
Very cool indeed!
Harry Crouch
President NCFM
Publisher’s note: On behalf of the editorial staff and news directors of AVfM, congratulations to NCFM and respects to Chris Thompson and Harry Crouch for this incredible achievement. Well done indeed, gentlemen. PE
