After working with male domestic violence offenders, Ted Bunch saw the need to integrate men into the fight against domestic and sexual abuse against women.

Bunch is the senior program director of a domestic violence accountability program in New York. The men who go through the 26-week, court-ordered program learn about historical, social and cultural aspects of domestic violence.

He wanted all men, not just offenders with court orders, to learn about domestic abuse.

In 2004, Bunch co-founded a group called A Call To Men, an organization to teach men about violence against women.

"We hope that men will understand their role as allies," he said. "Those men who are not violent and don't see themselves as a problem can see themselves as part of the solution."

Bunch talked about the organization Thursday at a presentation on campus for Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

A Call To Men was supposed to be a men-only organization.

But because its biggest supporters are women, the founders decided to include women in the organization.

A Call To Men also is known as the National Association of Men and Women Committed to Ending Violence Against Women.

Civil engineering sophomore Jeremy Ravitz went to the presentation for personal reasons. He decided to get involved in the movement against domestic violence after an ex-girlfriend of his was raped.

"I have several girlfriends — girls who are friends — and if anything like that happened to one of them, I would want to know how to handle it," he said.

The presentation was put on by several local and state organizations.

"We recognize the importance that college students play in serving as future leaders," said Tammy Lemmer, program manager of Michigan Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.

The recent movement to stop sexual and domestic abuse has been focused on female victims, Lemmer said. But she believes the solution should involve both sexes.

A Call To Men calls for a solution involving all people, Lemmer said.

Ravitz said he wished more men had shown up to the presentation because they could have learned from it. Bunch addressed some underlying issues that men face in society — such as not being able to express emotions without being thought of as gay or weak.

"Most guys are pretty much set on this is how men are supposed to act," Ravitz said. "He kind of enlightens you on the fact that it's OK to be yourself and express how you feel."

After hearing Bunch speak, Ravitz said he is considering finding a men's group on campus that addresses issues of sexual and domestic abuse.