It takes two to tango. But it takes more than that to ensure healthy relationships in our society.
That’s one of the messages incorporated in P.O.W.E.R. (Personal Ownership of Wellness to Enrich Relationships), an alliance formed by the University Men’s Center and Womenspace that publicly announced its purpose Wednesday.
The announcement was in conjunction with the Men’s Center’s fourth annual “Walkathon Against Sexual Assault.”
The annual walkathon is one activity recognizing Sexual Violence Prevention Week and is a chance for the Men’s Center to show support in the movement to end domestic violence, said Dave Miller, director of the Men’s Center.
“It’s for guys who want to take a stand and end sexual abuse,” Miller said.
Encouraging healthy relationships is a community issue, Men’s Center member Gerald Gonzales said during a press conference held outside the EMU front doors.
The goals of P.O.W.E.R. are to publicly support the fight against sexual assault and to create a collaborative effort to promote and educate people about living in healthy relationships.
Anna Sontag, youth program director of Womenspace – a Eugene organization that provides domestic abuse services – stressed that it takes all people in a relationship to create a healthy environment.

Sontag sent an open invitation to groups at the University and in Eugene to join the alliance.
The alliance began when Sontag contacted the Men’s Center earlier this year, Gonzales said. Twice a month, representatives from the two groups met and brainstormed the “big ideas” and issues they wanted to confront, which included domestic abuse and sexual assault, Gonzales said.
P.O.W.E.R. is planning a conference in October to bring together community and campus organizations to share expertise and knowledge on domestic violence and anything else “that will help promote non-violent interaction,” Gonzales said.
Participants in the walkathon Wednesday followed two loops around campus, both starting at the EMU. Along the paths, drawn in chalk, were facts and comments, such as “0.49 assaulters are convicted” and “real men speak out.”
Annie Dochnahl, a professor who teaches Human Physiology 102, gave extra credit to students in her class for participating in the event.
Heba Kanso, a freshman in the class, said she found the writings on the sidewalk interesting and that she was glad organizers incorporated them into the walk. Laura Schatz, also in the class, said she had not heard of the Men’s Center before the event.
Maisie Davis, who works in the Men’s Center, said the center is not just for men.
“It’s for everyone that wants to be in tune with men’s issues,” Davis said. “Look at me. I’m a woman and I’m working at the Men’s Center.”

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