History and Future of the Journey-Men

History

On February 18, 2001, 8 students gathered with staff of St. Norbert College to discuss men’s leadership on campus and as a result the “Knights of the Round Table, Men’s Leadership Forum” was formed. Their intent was to provide positive alternative social activities on campus and develop male leaders.

By fall 2001, the name was changed to “H.I.S.” (Honor, Integrity, Scholarship) and, in the fall of 2002, the name was again changed to better reflect the group’s mission. Thus Journey-Men (J-Men) began as a campus group.

Beginning with a handful of guys with a big vision, J-Men sought out to create a men’s group on campus that would provide men with things to do, explore what it means to be a man of good character in today’s society and improve the lives of others. They were inspired to foster men’s leadership on campus. Basic to this vision was the building of a place that would serve as a focal point for their activity. Thus their first task was to demolish and reconstruct a room in an unoccupied space in an old brick building that was once an all boys high school (Abbott Pennings).

Two and a half years later, with nearly 1,700 hours of labor, J-Men put away the hammers, saws and drills to open the Men’s Room, home to the Knight Owl Coffee Bar, to the St. Norbert community. As a place made of stone, wood and brick it stands as a tribute to their character and commitment to the greater good.

Currently, Journey-Men manages the Men’s Room and the Knight Owl as a service to St. Norbert College students and employees.

In the future

Since 2002, more attention has been given on campus in general to the needs and concerns of male students as the campus seeks to better engage male students into leadership and character developing activities, programs and events.

Journey-Men, too, has done much since 2002. The physical and organizational structure is in place to provide activities and programs that positively impact male students on campus. Still more needs to be done, so J-Men continuously reflects upon its efforts and makes adjustments.

Also, for J-Men to fully complete its vision, the third step of its vision needs to be developed. That is for those male students who desire to be more intentional about self-awareness, leadership and lives of service, J-Men intends to join with other areas on campus in providing formational experiences of active engagement and reflection. To do this however, financial resources need to be secured for staff oversight of program development.