From “Not All Men” to “All Good Men”

The allegations in the Cornell sexual assault case are horrifying. Among the most disturbing aspects is the reported number of young men who were present at the fraternity house or received messages about what was happening and, according to reports, did not intervene.

No one stood up and said, “This has to stop.”

When women share stories of abuse, a common response is: “Not all men.” And it’s true. Not all men harm women. Most men are safe, kind, and caring.

But being a good man means more than not causing harm. It means speaking up when other men cause harm. It means challenging controlling or abusive behavior among friends and family. It means being an upstander, not a bystander.

That’s why Take Back the Halls works with young men to build the knowledge, confidence, and skills to recognize harm, intervene safely, and hold one another accountable.

Your support makes this work possible. When you invest in Take Back the Halls, you help equip young people to become leaders, allies, and upstanders, students who know that when they see harm, silence is not an option.

Together, we can Take Back the Halls and create school communities where students look out for one another, challenge harmful behavior, and help build a culture of consent and accountability.

To learn more about how men can become allies in ending sexual violence, watch Tony Porter’s TED Talk, A Call to Men.

If you or someone you know needs support, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is 800-656-HOPE.