Maryland Governor Wes Moore is calling for a cultural shift in how America raises its young men, arguing that the recent sexual assault allegations involving Cornell University fraternity members expose a systemic failure that demands action from policymakers, not just parents and educators.
In an opinion piece published Wednesday, Moore, a Democrat, wrote that the case—where an anonymous student described horrific acts she endured at a Chi Phi fraternity event—has forced him to think about his own daughter's safety on campus and the lessons he imparts to his son about being a protector.
“All students deserve to feel safe at their own schools,” Moore wrote, pointing to his directive to the Maryland Higher Education Commission to develop comprehensive recommendations for strengthening campus sexual assault policies and disciplinary standards across the state's colleges and universities.
But Moore emphasized that institutional reforms are just the “floor.” The deeper problem, he argued, lies in the values and behaviors taught to boys long before they reach college.
“Cases like the one at Cornell reflect a failing of an entire culture—a failure that calls us to reexamine the values we instill in our young men and how we teach them to treat women,” Moore wrote.
To that end, Moore highlighted state-level initiatives in Maryland: requiring sex education that covers consent, partnering with the Parent Encouragement Program to help fathers have difficult conversations with their sons, and creating mentorship programs like the Service Year Option and Thrive Academy for at-risk youth.
Moore also took aim at the online “manosphere,” where content normalizing gender-based violence is pervasive. Maryland is working with organizations like Diverting Hate to redirect young men toward positive resources, and the state has a task force focused on combating AI-related crimes, including deepfakes. In 2025, Moore signed legislation expanding Maryland's revenge porn law to cover AI-generated deepfakes.
“Too often, action to address sexual violence is focused on how institutions like universities or workplaces can better protect women,” Moore wrote. “This is an important, but incomplete solution. We must also focus on how we can raise better men.”
Moore, who lost his father at age three and was raised by his mother, credited male mentors in the military and his fraternity for shaping his values. He argued that young men will find communities one way or another—the question is whether those spaces make them better or worse.
“Lifting up our young men and protecting our young women are not competing missions,” Moore wrote. “They are intertwined.”
The governor's comments come amid broader debates over campus safety and masculinity, with some conservatives pushing back on what they see as overreach. But Moore insisted that real strength means protecting others, not overpowering them.
For more on related political developments, see Moore's recent push for GOP acknowledgment of economic pain. And for context on how digital platforms are shaping political narratives, check this analysis of AI's role in bypassing paywalls.
