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Northern Illinois University

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News Release

Contact: Mark McGowan, NIU Office of Public Affairs
(815) 753-9472

October 26, 2004

Jackson Katz to address
students at NIU, Sycamore High School

DeKalb — Jackson Katz, a nationally known advocate for reducing the plague of sexual assault through the education of young men, will visit Northern Illinois University and Sycamore High School this week.

Chris Juhl, NIU’s activities adviser for Greek Affairs, said various organizations within the university and Safe Passage are sponsors of Katz’s two days in DeKalb County.

Katz will speak from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday at NIU, where he will offer specific training to university and community professionals about “how we can encourage young males to be more responsible, more supportive and more understanding of what the issues are.”

The former University of Massachusetts-Amherst football star will dine that night with a group of NIU athletes before offering his 7:30 p.m. keynote address in the Duke Ellington Ballroom of the Holmes Student Center. The event is free and open to the public.

He speaks Thursday morning at Sycamore High School, and will end his time here by conducting two small-group training sessions for NIU student leaders from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Meanwhile, organizers of a men’s group on campus will have a table at Wednesday evening’s keynote address torecruit more participants.

“We are very excited about Jackson’s visit and the services he will be providing for our staff, students and the community,” Juhl said. “We feel he could have an affect that will result in true cultural change on campus regarding gender violence and the role males can play to prevent assault and violence.”

Leaders of Safe Passage approached NIU for help in funding Katz’s appearance, Juhl said. NIU groups involved include Intercollegiate Athletics, the Residence Hall Association, Counseling and Student Development, the Student Association, the fraternity and sorority community and the 708 Board.

The NCAA also provided $750.

“We received a $500 grant from the NCAA, and because they were so impressed with our program, they sent an additional check for $250 for our use. This said volumes to me. How often does a group give more money than the grant allows for?” Juhl said. “This is by far the largest collaboration I have been a part of in my three-plus years at NIU.”

Katz, a recent member of the U.S. Secretary of Defense’s Task Force on Domestic Violence and the American Bar Association’s Commission on Domestic Violence, has lectured at more than 800 colleges, schools, professional conferences and military installations in 43 states since 1990. From 1988 to 1998, he was the chief organizer for Real Men, the Boston-based anti-sexist men’s organization.

Since 1996, he has directed MVP-MC, the first worldwide gender violence prevention program in the history of the United States Marine Corps.

For more information on Katz, visit www.jacksonkatz.com. For more information on this week’s visit, call Juhl at (815) 753-6702.

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