The Multi-Cultural Center is holding a week-long commemoration of the White Ribbon Campaign through Friday.

Manual Lopez, men’s program coordinator for the Women’s Resource Center, said every last week of November, men take the pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent against violence towards women. They can pledge by wearing a white ribbon.

The campaign held a ceremony yesterday where men on campus will pledged against violence toward women in Sacramento Hall, room 275 at noon.

Men are encouraged to pick up white ribbons and wear them in support of the cause, Lopez said.

“President Gonzalez, fraternity presidents, men with leadership roles and faculty and staff have all been contacted to attend. So far none have refused,” Lopez said.

Lopez hopes the White Ribbon Campaign will bring awareness on campus to specifically, getting men to stop violence against women wherever they see it.

“We men have to make a stand against violence. Think about your mothers and sisters this could happen to,” Lopez said. “Those of us that are responsible men (need) to say to each other ‘we have to stand up for the victim.'”

Lopez also hopes the White Ribbon Campaign will set an example for the future generation of men.

“We have to act as role models and show the younger men that there’s a right way to treat a woman. If we set an example, they will follow,” Lopez said.

Sigma Pi fraternity will attended Tuesday’s ceremony and will help make and pass out the white ribbons at the library quad. The fraternity will also be there signing a pledge. Mike D’ambrosio, Sigma Pi president, said he hopes the White Ribbon Campaign will help inform students about the issue of violence against women.

“Some men may say ‘I’m not violent against women, so it doesn’t affect me’ but it does,” he said. “Knowing that violence against women is happening all around us, and not doing anything about it is a problem.”

According to Todd Migliaccio, a sociology professor, the issue of women’s violence has long been ignored in our society.

“Most men do not condone violence against women, they just never been taught that they can take a role reducing it,” Migliaccio said. “It will begin the conversation?it’s about taking responsibility and that is good for any campus, including CSUS.”

Patricia Grady, director of the Women’s Resource Center, believes men helping in the fight to end violence against women is the next step in ending the violence.

“There are definitely women involved in this campaign. It’s great having men as allies. It’s the next level of the campaign against violence,” Grady said.

The White Ribbon Campaign was started in 1991 by a handful of men. The campaign was started in response to a Canadian University shooting that ended in 14 women being killed at the hands of a male.

Lopez also said national statistics on women and assault are alarming.

One out of four women will be sexually assaulted while in college. Women ages 16 through 24 are three times more likely to be involved in a violent incident. Statistics also state that 80 to 85 percent of attacks come from a friend or an acquaintance of the victim, he said.

Jessica Heskin, Women’s Resource Center counselor, said she welcomes any student who has a problem relating to assault.

“I’m a full-time advocate for sexual assault, intimate partner violence, stalking and hate crime victims?basically anything the victim needs I arrange or do,” Heskin said. “Everything the victim tells me is completely confidential.”

Charles Weinstein can be reached at [email protected]