Members from the SIUC campus and Carbondale community gathered last night at the a BrotherPeace rally at the Unitarian Fellowship, 301 W. Elm St.

BrotherPeace is sponsored by the National Organization of Men Against Sexism, a national anti-violence organization. The rally was a chance for individuals to discuss positive stragies to help abusive men conquer aggressive tendencies towards women and channel those aggressions into positive outlets, organizers said.

Byran Crow, a representative from BrotherPeace, spoke to the group about the various emotions those concerned about violence toward women feel when hearing about violent acts.

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Denice Roseanne, a SIUC english major, said it upsets her when men do not speak out against violence to other men.

It’s disappointing when I have male friends on the right side of thinking and who don’t speak out, she said. In a social sense, standing up for yourself is so important.

Eric Usatch, a volunteer peer educator at the Carbondale Women’s Center, said the most important way to bring about a change in violent behavior is speaking to younger children. He said younger males need to be taught why aggressive behavior is unacceptable and communicat positively.

There are other means and avenues to obtaining communication, he said. Language is easier to use then physical violence.

Usatch said he is shocked by some men’s blatant disregard for women. He said setting a good example to the youth helps spread more positive words to other men, boys, and women.

A violent man gives all men a bad name, and makes women more suspicious of you because of your gender.

Don Mullison, a counselor at SIUC, asked the audience to gather into small groups and discuss actions men can take to stop violence against women.

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He said discussing ideas will enable people to get a clear picture of ways they can stop violence.

Mullison said some of the ways to stop violence include forming support groups or changing school curriculum to teach children respect for one another at an earlier age.

Melisa Austin, a resident of Carbondale, said centers should be set up to help counsel fathers on methods of raising children.

Men need to break old patterns learned from generation to generation about expressing emotions.

At the end of the group the meeting, the men gave a pledge to end rape and promised to speak out to others about their anger towards rape.

The pledge will give (a) voice to men about something they are normally silent about, Crow said.