262558 Operation Jungle Red: A National Movement to Stop Violence

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Christopher Escue, MS, CHES , Department of Kinesiology and Health, Miami University (OH), Oxford, OH
Reginald Fennell, PhD, MCHES, NREMT-P , Deparment of Kinesiology and Health (KNH), Miami University, Oxford, OH
Marcy Hufendick, MS, LPC, CSAC , Student Health and Counseling Center, University of Wisconsin Parkside, Kenosha, WI
Luisa Morales, BS , Captain, Peer Health Educators, University of Wisconsin Parkside, Racine, WI
Rafael Cordwell, BA , Housing and Residence Life, Western Connecticut State University, Danbury, CT
Operation Jungle Red (OJR), originating in a men's health course (taught every two years), is a non-traditional awareness project. OJR focuses on increasing awareness of the prevalence of violence in society, primarily committed by men. OJR has been replicated by at least five colleges in the United States. Representatives from three universities will speak on the panel. Representatives from Miami University will discuss experiences with OJR in 2008, 2010, and 2012. Representatives from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and Western Connecticut State University will discuss their experiences with OJR in 2011. Rather than prescribing preventative measures for women and men to avoid becoming victims, OJR attempts to engage young men in conversations to discuss the impact that violent acts have on society. To challenge men's ideas about masculinity and socialized gender roles, men are asked to wear red fingernail polish during the week or month of OJR. Each participant is provided with printed information about violence in society, specifically designed to evoke emotion and start conversations. Since 2008, nearly 1000 men at Miami University have gone “jungle red” to start a conversation about violence. Including participation by women, an average of 2000 students have participated in the project each year. Positive news coverage by local and national news outlets occurred each year. This presentation will provide step-by-step instructions and print materials to implement the project at schools and colleges. With wider dissemination about this men's project, we have the opportunity to change how men think about violence.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Advocacy for health and health education
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Program planning
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
Identify one non-traditional method to encourage conversations in relation to reducing violent acts, Identify one non-traditional method to encourage the increase of more male participation in these conversations, List the frequency of violent acts committed by men in the U.S., and Identify key constituents on a school or college campus to assist with education projects targeting men.

Keywords: Violence Prevention, Male Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Reginald Fennell, Ph.D., MCHES, F-ACHA, Paramedic is a Professor of Health Promotion at Miami University and past President of the American College Health Association (ACHA). He is also one of the three Executive Editors of the Journal of American College Health (JACH), the only scholarly journal devoted entirely to the health of college students. He has authored more than 30 publications and given more than 150 presentations at professional conferences and symposiums.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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