Men’s Project, an initiative aimed at deconstructing traditional male gender roles, will be rebooted at Washington University this semester after nearly a three-year hiatus.

The program’s goal is to enable men to approach the topic of masculinity in a healthy manner while addressing issues such as relationship violence, body image and drug abuse.

The initiative started in 2013 as a collaboration between Campus Life and Residential Life. Now, it works with the Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention (RSVP) Center. The group welcomes men of all races, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Brandon Cash, one of the program’s two advisors, said a key aspect of the program is allowing men to start conversations that they may not otherwise have the opportunity to hold.

“It is about meeting men where they are at, welcoming them to the dialogue and providing a balance of challenge and support to encourage them to remain engaged,” Cash said. “Each male-identifying person has a story of how their understanding of masculinity came to be, and I think Men’s Project is about providing a space for men to share those stories and unpack what it all means for them now, as a college student, and beyond.”

Assistant Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life Austin Sandoval-Sweeney, who worked with the program until 2016, said the program is critical for thinking about how an individual’s concept of masculinity not only affects them, but their society, as well.

“I think a huge part of that socialization is power and privilege,” Sandoval-Sweeney said. “I know these are hard conversations to have, but they are important.”

Student leader and senior Maverick Salyards said participating in Men’s Project changed his experience at Washington University.

“Through Men’s Project I have personally engaged with my own masculinity in a way that I had never considered,” Salyards said. “I feel more confident in myself and feel better taking ownership in who I am.”

This semester, the group plans to hold general body meetings and weekly cohorts. They also hope to speak with more students on campus, specifically those involved in activities like fraternities and athletic teams.

“Providing the space for conversation for men to engage with their masculinity is incredibly important to make our campus and our world safer,” Salyards said.