Maryland Governor Wes Moore is calling for a cultural shift in how America raises its young men, arguing that preventing cases like the recent Cornell fraternity scandal requires more than just policy tweaks. In an essay published Friday, Moore, a Democrat, framed the issue as both a personal and political imperative, drawing on his own experience as a father of two.
Moore referenced the allegations involving Cornell University's Chi Phi fraternity, where a student known as Jane Doe described horrific acts of hazing and sexual abuse. The governor said such incidents are not isolated failures but symptoms of a broader cultural problem that demands a reexamination of the values instilled in boys.
“I worry for my daughter’s future safety when some college campuses seem more concerned with protecting their reputation than protecting their students,” Moore wrote. He added that he thinks about his son and the conversations they have about being a provider, a protector, and knowing whom to fight for—especially when it’s difficult.
Moore has already taken steps in Maryland to address campus sexual assault. He directed the Maryland Higher Education Commission to issue recommendations for strengthening campus policies and disciplinary standards. He also signed legislation requiring school systems to adopt standard operating procedures on sexual abuse, and Maryland is one of only 16 states that mandate consent education in sex ed.
But Moore insists that institutional fixes are just the starting point. “If it is where our action starts and ends, then we are not doing enough,” he wrote. The governor is advocating for better sex education, more involved fathers, and male role models who are willing to have tough conversations with young men.
Moore, who lost his father at age three and was raised by his mother and sisters, acknowledged that he couldn’t learn how to be a man from them alone. He credits his own development to male-dominated spaces like basketball courts, the military, and his fraternity—places where he found values like integrity, service, and empathy. The Cornell case, he said, represents the opposite of that ideal.
“Young men are always looking for somewhere to belong,” Moore wrote. “What matters is whether they find spaces that make them better, hold them accountable and help them grow.”
To that end, Moore highlighted Maryland’s Service Year Option and Thrive Academy, which provide mentorship and structure for at-risk youth. He also pointed to efforts to combat the “manosphere”—online communities that normalize gender-based violence. Maryland is working with groups like Diverting Hate to redirect young men toward positive resources, and it has a task force focused on AI-related crimes, including deepfakes.
Moore argued that policymakers have a responsibility to act, just as much as fathers, teachers, and mentors. He noted that his Young Men and Boys Initiative aims to address the challenges facing boys, but that work is incomplete if it doesn’t also address how young men have failed women. “Lifting up our young men and protecting our young women are not competing missions,” he said. “They are intertwined.”
Ultimately, Moore called for raising boys who understand that real strength means protecting others, not overpowering them. “We must also focus on how we can raise better men,” he wrote, and that starts with deliberate, tangible actions from leaders at every level.
