AGNESS: Gentlemen on Campus: University of Virginia Holds a Contest

CHARLOTTESVILLE Much of our attention on college campuses is focused on women. We have women's studies departments, women's centers, and administrative positions created just for women. These posts are filled with academic feminists, who seek to empower women and transform society. To many of these women, what is one of the biggest problems in society that needs to be transformed? Men.

Since the emergence of the sexual liberation movement in the 1970s, women have been told self-sufficiency and independence should be a woman's top goals. Meanwhile, men receive the message that chivalrous acts are demeaning toward women. Young men are too often the target of women's groups, who cast men as oppressors and women as the victims. Contrary to what is conveyed through many feminist events on campus, such as "The Vagina Monologues," a group of honorable young men still exists on campus. One women's organization, the Network of enlightened Women (NeW), is taking a stand: A stand against cultural norms on college campus by honoring gentlemen.

Rather than degrading gentlemen and gentlemanly acts on campus, the members of this national organization for conservative college women, which was founded at the University of Virginia in 2004, are searching for the elusive campus gentlemen. They are seeking out those men who treat women with dignity and respect without any expectation of recognition in return. These men are competing for the title of gentlemen. The NCAA isn't the only place for college men to compete in March.

The idea started at Arizona State University, where conversation among members of the ASU chapter of NeW evolved from a candid discussion of the question, "Are gentlemen an endangered species?" to a more serious awareness of the declining quality of college relationships. Respect between the sexes had deteriorated, which was obvious in the way men and women treated each other. NeW women began looking for a way to honor good men who rebelled against the current campus culture. The Annual Gentlemen's Showcase was born: an event recognizing the 10 men on campus receiving the most nominations from peers for their gentlemanly acts.

Hosting the Second Annual Gentlemen's Showcase earlier this March, the NeW women at Arizona State received more than 160 nominations for 95 different men. Although some nominations were for simple acts, such as opening a door, the majority spoke about the gentleman's overall character and how his fundamental respect for women was revealed through courteous acts. One nomination read:

"To me, a gentleman is someone who is honest, patient, respectful, and genuinely cares about others. Ted is all of these and so much more. There is not just one single act that makes him stand out as a gentleman. You can find these characteristics in his actions every day. He will go out of his way to help people and take care of those around him. He is one of the most gentlemanly guys I know."

The concept has gone national. Throughout March, the national organization of NeW is hosting an online contest run through Facebook, where students nominate men for gentlemanly acts by posting a video about the college man. The winner will be awarded a steak dinner for two.

The NeW Chapter at the University of Virginia is running its own version of the contest, "March Madness: Gentlemen's Edition." Tapping into the competitive nature of young men, the competition is set up like the NCAA bracket with men facing off against each other based on their gentlemanly acts. Instead of cheering for Ohio State, Purdue, or Syracuse, students vote for descriptions of the nominated gentlemen in head-to-head match-ups such as, "holds doors open and allows women to go first," "offer[s] his seat on the bus," "always making sure he is on the outside of the sidewalk when walking with a woman," "helps fellow team members with their work in addition to his own, without complaint," "sent me flowers with a hand-written note after we'd had a difference of opinion on a political issue," and "is highly aware of the needs and feelings of others."

There are still gentlemen on college campuses. And with a little encouragement, there will be more. Instead of trying to change men on campus, we should seek to bring out the best in them. And this lesson applies to women as well. The pop culture battles between the sexes remain. The success of this event, however, gives me hope that we are coming to terms with our sex differences, which will lead to better relations between the sexes in the future.

Karin Agness is a graduate of the University of Virginia and the president of the Network of enlightened Women (NeW), an organization for conservative college women. Contact her at karin.agness@enlightenedwomen.org.