Hey everyone!
This was quite the eventful evening! We have some really awesome events coming up soon that we really need help and support on!
We're thinking about raffling sex toys for our Relay For Life table. To sign up for our team (meaning to come hang out with us for a couple of hours and walk and support an amazing cause) go to www.relayforlife.org/newyorkuniversity. Once you're there, search for the National Organization for Women and join our team! We'd love to have you on board.
We also discussed Take Back the Night. We're going to be sponsoring this amazing event to support victims of sexual violence and abuse. We need people to start reaching out to friends, peers, etc. in order to find anyone willing to either play music, read poetry, speak, etc. for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Take Back the Night Event. The date is going to be Tuesday, April 28th, (we're thinking around 8pm). We'll be making flyers, etc. very soon. We really need people to come next week to really get this going and to give out specific responsibilities. We're going to need to do a LOT of outreach, i.e. going to other clubs' meetings (once we get a list of clubs that are OK with us coming to do a little speech/hand out flyers -- that will be coming soon), hanging up flyers all over the place, presenting this to your classes (ask your prof. -- they're usually really cool about doing this before class starts), e-mailing other listserves or mass e-mailing friends from other schools. We will be making a facebook event--once we know certain specific details we can get the ball really rolling. So make sure you come next week! Also start asking around to see if you know anyone willing to perform!
We talked a little bit about the Feminist Majority Conference that Larry, Alex and I attended (I'm sorry if I spelled it wrong!!!). There will be more to come on that next week. It was an awesome conference and we have lots of fun stuff to tell everyone about.
We also had a really good conversation about the Women's Center/Women and Gender Resource Center, etc. We'll bring people up-to-date on that. I'm pretty sure we're going to get a club started that revolves around this whole issue and getting it started. We'll keep people updated on that.
After the meeting we all went out and participated in the NARAL Day of Action. We handed out condoms and emergency contraception information to people leaving and entering the subways. Let me tell you...it was really nervewracking at first but once our fearless leader got us started, there was no stopping us! People really seemed to take a liking to us. We didn't get too many bad responses. There were a couple creepers and a few older women who gave us dirty looks but there were so many people who said thanks and who looked happy or thought it was hilarious. So all in all, it was awesome. We handed out about 250 condoms in around a half hour. CRAZINESS!!!! We're contemplating making this our new community service event (because things have gone nowhere with planned parenthood right now--they're swamped?). It was lots of fun and once you get over the initial embarassment/fear you start to have fun.
Hope everyone's first week back is going well. I hope to see you next week, look forward to hearing if anyone has friends that can perform (preferably sexual-domestic violence related), and am psyched about our upcoming events! We need your support and to see you there!
xo,
Sarah
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Welcome Back!
Hey there!
I hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing spring break. Let's hope midterms are done with and people have a little bit of time to relax before finals, etc.
Wanted to let everyone know that we have some exciting events coming up and plenty to talk about at our meeting. If anyone wants to discuss anything in particular, feel free to bring it up or e-mail Julie to have it added to the agenda.
Also, I will be attempting to post the pictures soon of the sex toy workshop that occurred before break! That was so much fun and I want to thank everyone for showing up, letting Larry and I take pictures, and for being such an amazing group! Who knew playing with sex toys in a non-sexual way could be so fun?! :)
Hope to see you at the meeting this Wednesday at 7pm!
Love,
Sarah
I hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing spring break. Let's hope midterms are done with and people have a little bit of time to relax before finals, etc.
Wanted to let everyone know that we have some exciting events coming up and plenty to talk about at our meeting. If anyone wants to discuss anything in particular, feel free to bring it up or e-mail Julie to have it added to the agenda.
Also, I will be attempting to post the pictures soon of the sex toy workshop that occurred before break! That was so much fun and I want to thank everyone for showing up, letting Larry and I take pictures, and for being such an amazing group! Who knew playing with sex toys in a non-sexual way could be so fun?! :)
Hope to see you at the meeting this Wednesday at 7pm!
Love,
Sarah
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
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
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
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
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
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