Mizzou Black Women's Initiative sponsors Battle of the Sexes

The organization is in its first year.

By Jimmy Hibsch

Published Sept. 28, 2010

The recently founded Mizzou Black Women’s Initiative is hosting its first Battle of the Sexes week, which culminates in one event against the Mizzou Black Men's Initiative.

MBWI Communications Chairwoman Ashley Shaw said the week’s events were envisioned with the intent of helping the organizations' members bond.

“The main purpose of the Battle of the Sexes is to provide a platform and series of events to help us achieve our goal,” she said.

Shaw said MBWI’s goal is to cultivate an understanding of the importance of forming a community which allows for sharing, bonding and using resources efficiently and effectively.

The week’s events began Monday with a presentation entitled “Ambitious Girl” by Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace. She spoke at the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center to women about the life of a minority woman in higher education.

Wednesday, teams of both sexes will compete in “Throw it in the Bag,” a budgeting scavenger hunt. The following night for “Gibberish,” a panel will discuss misunderstandings between men and women.

The true battle of the sexes will occur Friday night, when MBWI will challenge the Mizzou Black Men’s Initiative for “All I Do is Win,” a culmination of physical and mental challenges. Teams will be pre-selected, but Shaw encourages anyone to come support either gender.

“There’s nothing like a classic battle between men and women,” Shaw said. “It will give the women of MBWI a better perspective and understanding of men.”

MBMI member Phillip Simpkins said he sees the event as an opportunity to showcase the relationship between black men and women at MU.

“It’s good to show unity between African American males and African American females,” he said. “For us, this is an opportunity for us to get to know each other more as individuals. It gives the campus a chance to see us working together. Even though we might be different, we’re still trying to better the community and provide fun events for the campus to enjoy.”

MBMI Adviser Nathan Stephens said these types of events help members of both groups to better understand each other.

“We both have similar goals, to increase the graduation and academic success rates and leadership opportunities of the respective groups,” he said. “Each group offers the other a unique perspective. The other sex can offer that unique perspective you need to do what you’re trying to do.”

The open lines of communication between MBWI and MBMI allow for each group to learn from its opposite sex, Stephens said.

“If we want to put on an event and we want more females to come, we can go to them and ask what women would be interested in, and they can do the same to us,” he said.

The week’s events will commence Saturday with “We Need a Resolution,” a service gathering where MBWI will help the Missouri Students Association Multicultural Issues Committee with its annual SWIPES food drive. Students can exchange their meal points for non-perishable snacks that will be donated to a local charitable organization.

MBWI General Body Co-Coordinator Danielle Owens said she is anticipating receiving feedback from those who attend the events.

“This is our first year as an organization, and this is the first time we are going outside of MBWI as a whole and putting on an event for everybody to come to,” she said. “We just kind of want to get people’s feedback on how we can get better as an organization and touch the community as a whole.”