Saturday, February 28, 2009

February 25, 2009 Meeting

We talked about the Irshad Manji movie screening event and how powerful it was. There were a few of us at the meeting who went and we discussed the movie and what Irshad Manji had to say. What we want everyone to take away from it was the face that we want people to be open to discuss anything that's on their minds.

We also discussed the TBNYU! Occupation. It was a really great discussion. We've decided not to remove ourselves from the coalition. However, we think it's important for TBNYU! to know what members of its coalition think about what happened and any constructive criticisms or things we thought were positive.

We discussed the NARAL petitions, which you can get online at a link in a previous post here.

March 8 is International Women's Day. We will find out more information from Julie as to what is happening on that day.

March 2 (THIS MONDAY!) is the opening event for Women's Herstory Month!!!! Check out the women's herstory month calendar on facebook! (It starts at 7:15)

March 3 (THIS TUESDAY!) is the ICARUS workshop that we're cosponsoring called the (In)Sanity of Gender. This should be a really great event. Come one! Come all! It's Tuesday at 7:00 in room 522 of the Gallatin building.

March 11 (NEXT WEEK) is our AWESOME sex toy workshop. We'll be raffling some lovely prizes. It's at 7pm in our regular room, Kimmel 805.

March 25 is the NARAL NYC Day of Action.

April 19 is Relay for Life (we'll send our more about this later).

And April is also Take Back the Night, which celebrates survivors or rape and sexual violence (We'll also send out more about this later).

I'll post the Women's Herstory Month Calendar a little later.

xo,
Sarah

Thursday, February 19, 2009

February 18, 2009 Meeting

Hello everyone.

Here's what happened at our meeting.

We discussed the Vagina Monologues and the OXFAM event. Feel free to ask about those. I'm not really going to go into detail here.

We'd like to remind you to bring in the NARAL petitions for the Reproductive Health Act that Sue handed out the other week. If you don't have one and would like to sign it or have others sign it, you can find it here: www.prochoiceny.org/getinvolved/alerts/00705221.shtml. If the link does not work, please e-mail Sue or let me know.

We also discussed the possibility of doing a NARAL Campus Challenge action, which is either a campaign, event or program in which we get the word out on Emergency Contraception (EC). We haven't decided anything yet but the event should be for March. Start thinking about possible ideas that you may have! We'd love to hear from people!

Also, March 25th (which is a ways away so I will post a reminder once the day nears) there is teh NYC Day of Action with NARAL where people stand outside subway stations all over NYC and hand out condoms and information about EC. You can go to www.prochoiceny.org to find out more information or e-mail Sue.

There is also a volunteer event coming up this Saturday with ACT (Against Child Trafficking), a student group at NYU. They will be sorting clothing for the girls of GEMS (Girls Education and Mentoring Services), which GEMS received from their clothing drive. This is a great event and a time to meet people from other clubs and do something to help out girls from NYC that are victims of human trafficking. It's this Saturday (Feb. 21) from 12-4 at 298B W. 149th Street, New York, NY 10039 (Just east of the corner of 149th and Fredrick Douglass Blvd--Go to www.hopstop.com for train directions). Please try to bring hangers!!! Feel free to contact Ebony Rentas, Chair of GEMS Volunteer Committee. Tell her Chanelle told you about the event.

Last, but certainly not least, is our exciting event for this coming Friday. Julie sent an e-mail over the listserve but here it is as a reminder: NOW-NYU presents: “Are We Global Citizens or Not? An interactive evening with author, activist and NYU leadership professor Irshad Manji”How many times have you been told that “you can’t comment if you don’t represent?” How many times have you said that to fellow activists, believing that we shouldn’t stick our noses in other people’s business? In an interdependent world, is there such a thing as “other” people?Irshad Manji says no; we’re all in it together. That’s what it means to be global citizens. She makes the case in her internationally best-selling book, The Trouble with Islam Today: A Muslim’s Call for Reform in Her Faith. Since then, Irshad has joined NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service, where she serves as Director of the Moral Courage Project — a leadership program that mentors students to speak truth to power, even at the price of personal backlash.Her motto: Courage is not the absence of fear; courage is the recognition that some things are more important than fear!In that spirit, Irshad and NOW-NYU invite you to join a vibrant conversation about changing the world. On Friday evening, Feb 20, we’ll screen Irshad’s Emmy-nominated PBS film, “Faith Without Fear,” which chronicles her journey to reconcile Islam with human rights. The film raises questions about freedom, rights, responsibilities and, above all, courage. Irshad will then open up a discussion with all of us. Bring your voices with you.WHEN: Friday, February 20th, 5:30 - 7:30 pmWHERE: Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service, NYU; 295 Lafayette St (at Houston), Rice Conference Room; Come to 2nd floor reception and one of the organizers will be on hand to lead you to the room. PLEASE RSVP TO JULIE KILGER (e-mail on the left-hand side of the screen). We need to know how many people plan to attend this event.

Support our lovely lady (and others) at the TBNYU! Occupation!

Love,
Sarah

WHOA NELLY! Go ACTIVISTS!

Hey everyone!

Exciting shit happening over at Kimmel! I know it's a little late but go over to Kimmel to show your support to TBNYU! and budget disclosure/university transparency!!!!!!! One of our loverly members is over yon so go show her your support!

Go to the TBNYU! website for more information and for their list of demands: takebacknyu.com.

I will update everyone on what happened at our meeting last night when I get home later. Just wanted everyone to go show their support for the occupation of Kimmel! 

Love,
Sarah

Monday, February 16, 2009

Women's Herstory Month 2009

Here is the 2009 Calendar of Events for Women's Herstory Month!!!!!

http://www.new.facebook.com/wall.php?id=527326251&banter_id=1381740042&show_all#/topic.php?uid=47579143105&topic=7506

Our events are on March 3 [i.e. (In)Sanity of Gender] and March 11 [Sex Toy Workshop]!!!!

Love,
Sarah

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

February 11, 2009 Meeting

Hey everyone!

We had a jam-packed (ha ha) meeting tonight. I say ha-ha because we had PB&J for dinner tonight. :) Stupid, yes. Worth it to say, maybe.

Anyway, onto the good stuff.

The Vagina monologues are this coming weekend (13th, 14th and 15th). We decided to go as a group Friday night. However, we will have a table there to get petitions signed and people to sign up for the listserve. We have a couple of people to take care of the table on Friday night. However, if anyone could make the Saturday night or Sunday afternoon showings so that we can have someone at the table, please e-mail Julie and let her know your availability. The show starts at 7pm but if you're able to table, we'd need to there around 6pm. Please let Julie know soon and we hope to see you there this weekend!

We also have a bunch of NARAL petitions for the Reproductive Health Act. This is a really important thing to show support for because, should Roe v. Wade be overturned, New York State is really not as protected as most people think it is. We would love for you to pick one up from Sue or Julie (or anyone else that has them really), get them signed, and bring them back in about 2 weeks (the meeting after next).

We're also now co-sponsoring OxFam's "Raise Hope for Congo" on February 17th at 6pm on the 10th Floor of Kimmel. We'd love for people to come and show their support for this amazing and powerful event. Here's the link to their facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/wall.php?id=1075080069&banter_id=1381740042&show_all#/event.php?eid=60223353976&ref=nf.

We had some really nice and informative guests come tonight from the Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF)--Emily and Patrice. They are campus organizers from the FMF, which is a Washington D.C. based organization akin to NOW. However, most of their chapters are college groups and work on a lot of international issues. Some campaigns that they are or have been working on are training midwives in Afghanistan to lower the maternal mortality rate (which has spiked to one out of every six women). They have also worked to shut down Crisis Pregnancy Centers ("fake abortion clinics"). We had a really great discussion about these Centers. While it is important for people to feel comfortable going somewhere that they feel can give them other options besides abortion, it is also important to recognize that women should be receiving comprehensive, accurate information on all aspects of pregnancy-related options (adoption, keeping the baby, abortion, etc. etc.). We have more information/handouts on the issue if you are interested in learning more. Back to their visit! They are hosting the National Young Women's Leadership Conference in Washington D.C. (we have flyers for this too). On March 21-22 they are having "From Campus to Congress" where many nationwide feminist on-campus organizations will meet with each other and discuss (things). On March 23-24 they are having Congressional Visit Days at Capitol Hill. They discussed with us that the group rate is $15 per person, not including transportation or housing. However, they discussed some options with us (such as outreach to other groups for possible bus sponsorship), putting everyone in the same room, staying at a friend's house, etc. We can discuss these options more as we decide what to do and who may or may not go. For more information go to their website at www.feministcampus.org/leadership or contact Emily Kadar at ekadar@feminist.org.

They also have internships available in D.C. (and L.A.) during the semester AND over the summer. This would be a wonderful opportunity for many young feminists. They recommended getting applications in by the end of March. For more information or to apply go to www.feminist.org/intern or e-mail FMF at internship@feminist.org (for DC) or internshipla@feminist.org (for LA).

Rachael told us about a trip to Albany that she is going on with her internship organization that she would love to see people at. They are going to Albany to protest/repeal the Rockefeller drug laws, which often only serve to facilitate black men into prisons.

Our exciting event with ICARUS is coming up on March 3 at 7pm in Gallatin, room 522. It's the day after the opening ceremonies for Women's (Womyn's) Herstory month. This will speak to alternative forms of mental health (particularly for those uncomfortable with medications), self-destruction/mutilation, and the interplay between mental health and gender.

Our sex toy workshop will be on March 11 during our regular meeting (7pm in Kimmel room 805).

We are also discussing the event coming up (Time and place TBA) with Irshad Manji, author of "The Trouble with Islam". We will be hosting a showing of her film "Faith Without Fear" which is about reconciling the Muslim faith with human rights. She will then be discussing our right and responsibility as young activitists to stand up for different communities (even if we are not a part of them), and also to be open and courageous enough to ask questions even if we feel they may make us or others uncomfortable. She will be speaking to the question: "What does it mean to be a global citizen?" This event will be on February 20th. We are currently working on finding the space and time. More information will be available soon.

Thanks for reading! Hope to see you at the next meeting and at many of our exciting, upcoming events!!!!!

Love,
Sarah

Sunday, February 8, 2009

February 4, 2009 Meeting

Hey. Sorry I've been slacking on posting. This week has been a little weird.

Anywho, Wednesday's meeting we ate food! Woo!

We also had two representatives from OxFam join us to let us know about an awesome event they're holding on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 6pm on the 10th Floor of Kimmel (Rosenthal Pavilion). It's called "Raise Hope For Congo". It's to raise awareness and speak about the violence against women in the Democratic Repulic of Congo. They want to empower women there. They will have speakers from the "Enough" project.

We are also going to decide NEXT week when we try to attend the Vagina monologues as a group.

We've selected a date for our joint workshop titled "(In)Sanity of Gender" with ICARUS -- March 3! Date and time will be announced later.

Also, if you want to sign up for our Planned Parenthood volunteer escorting once a month please go to http://www.plannedparenthood.org/nyc/volunteer-intern-15239.htm , print and fill out the form and put it in our NOW-NYU mailbox on the 6th floor of Kimmel, number 129.

Last but not least, Sue spoke to us about the Petition she has going around for the Reproductive Health Act for New York State which would ENSURE that the NYS abortion laws are updated in case Roe v. Wade were overturned. This is important because in New York State, abortion is still part of criminal law, and is also an EXCEPTION to a rule, not a rule itself. Congress will be in session from January through June so this petition will be important to sign and get out. We will have them at the meetings but e-mail Sue if you would like to get one or know more information.

Hope to see you next week!
Love,
Sarah

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Vagina Monologues

So all I've heard about this is from Facebook. Here's the link to the event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=59619315241.

It's going to be happening:
Friday, February 13, 2009 at 7:00pm
Saturday, February 15, 2009 at 7:00pm
Sunday, February 15, 2009 at 2:00pm

Location:NYU's Kimmel Center, E&L Auditoruim

I'm not sure who to contact if you have any questions about it. I guess just go to the facebook event to find out.

We'll probably try to figure out a day that we can go as a group. I'll keep you posted on whether we decide one at tomorrow's meeting!

Come watch a movie and chillax tomorrow at 7pm in Kimmel 912!
Love,
Sarah