POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – The Marist Center for Student-Athlete Enhancement, in collaboration with the Marist Title IX Office and Cannavino Library, hosted its 13^th White Ribbon Campaign on Wednesday morning.
 
The White Ribbon Campaign is the world's largest movement of men and boys working to end violence against women and girls, promote gender equity, healthy relationships, and a new vision of masculinity. 
 
This year's event started in front of Champagnat Hall and included a speech by sophomore Kolbe Benham of the football team.
 
"I want you all to think about all the strong, beautiful, and independent ladies who are part of your lives and helped you get here," Benham said in his speech. "Protect them, love them, and appreciate them. … One day it'll be us. We're going to be a dad, we're going to be an uncle, we're going to be a grandparent and we're going to want someone to treat your daughter, your niece, your granddaughter the way you know she should be treated."
 
Benham concluded his speech by addressing females in attendance, "I'm 100 percent sure that every male athlete within Marist Athletics feels this way: If at any point you feel in danger, whether it's from a friend, from a significant other, or anybody else, let us know and we will protect you and be on your side, no questions asked about it."
 
The event continued with a walk around campus.
 
The White Ribbon Campaign was first brought to Marist's campus in 2008, spearheaded by football student-athletes Dan Smith and Al Ruiz. In 2008, Smith said, "We hope the other athletes and especially the younger football players continue this initiative and make it a tradition in the coming years." The tradition has continued in some form in every non-COVID year since.