WASHINGTON - The Georgetown University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) hosted an event on campus, as student-athletes took part in Inclusive Leadership: A Discussion on Gender and Health in Sports on Sunday evening. The purpose of the event was to open a dialogue regarding sexual violence and the destructive societal normalizations of masculinity and feminity and how sports can be used for social change.

"The goals of the event were not easy or simple," said Georgetown SAAC Inclusivity Coordinator Matt Behrens, a senior on the men's lacrosse team. "With the help of Joe Ehrmann, Bridie Farrell and our facilitators from A Call to Men and Promundo, student-athletes were encouraged to examine and challenge the destructive elements of masculinity and femininity norms, especially within the sports world. The day also helped us work through how to use our position as athletes to be leaders on the issue of sexual assault." Sunday's dialogue began in Georgetown's Gaston Hall, where Behrens gave the opening remarks, speaking on the collective experiences boys and young men as athletes go through and the importance for men and women to authentically listen to one another. He then gave way to guest speakers Bridie Farrell and Joe Ehrmann.

Farrell a former women's American speed skating record holder in the 1,500m, 3,000, and 3,000m relay, spoke to the student-athletes about the prevalence of sexual assault, abuse and misconduct in the sports world, and shared her story of being sexually abused as a 15-year old by her Olympic mentor.

Ehrmann, a former defensive lineman in the National Football League and founder of InSideOut Initiative for transformation coaching, spoke to how sports should be used as a common goal to develop people's character. He pointed out the harmful norms that men are taught by society of what it takes to be a man, based off of negative aspects.

Following the talks from Farrell and Ehrmann, the event moved to breakout sessions where the student-athletes engaged in group discussions about what it means to be a man and what it means to be a woman in society, especially in the context of sports.

The facilitators came from A Call to Men, a violence prevention organization which started the #IWILLSPEAKUP hashtag in response to #MeToo, and Promundo, an international organization dedicated to transforming violence against women by engaging boys and men.

"Over the last several months, numerous survivors of sexual assault and misconduct have gone public, making themselves heard," Behrens said. "We wanted to emphasize that men are a vital part of this conversation and in the burden of transformation. The day served as a kickoff for students to continue this process and dialogue in the future."