It's Almost Halloween! Minutes 10/24/07!

Minutes 10/24/07

Lang Cafeteria, then changed to Lang Basement

5PM

Attendance: Allan, Anthony, Al, Lucas, Harper, Josie, Kaleb, Megan, and Peter

Website: www.opennewschool.blogspot.com

First of all, we’d like to thank everyone who came to the screening of “But, I’m A Cheerleader.” About 30 people came and lots of people were happy walking away with free vibrators from Babeland!

Items Discussed

1) Recent Incident in the First Year Workshop

a. The first year workshop is a class requirement for first time incoming freshmen and involves presentations done by the professional staff at the New School.

b. One staff member had slanderous, homophobic remarks made about him in written, anonymous evaluations from various freshmen in the classes.

c. Student Rights and Responsibilities has gotten involved and Bertha Peralta, the First Year Advisor are doing their best to track the source of these remarks down.

d. People are always asking us why there is a GLBTQQ incident on campus if we’re such a liberal university. This is a prime example of why we need to continue to execute amazing events and programs to educate the New School community, because as much as we’d like to think that people are ok with the GLBTQQ community, there are some people who aren’t.

2) Movie screening for next month

a. We’re going to go for Thursday, Nov 15^th for our next movie screening.

b. At this meeting, the movie titles that were brought up include “Beautiful Boxer,” “Mysterious Skin,” and “Torchlight Trilogy.”

c. If anyone has any movie suggestions for next month email Lucas Brooks (brooL067@newschool.edu)

d. Remember, we’d want to have a serious theme this time around.

e. A movie will be decided at next week’s meeting….wait a second. It’s HALLOWEEN! Hmm, wait for next meeting’s time and date coming soon.

Items needing to be done

1) Still need to work on securing a space to hold meetings officially instead of just in the Lang Cafeteria

2) Need ideas to do a Trans focused event sometime soon.

3) Allan is in talks with the Housing office about working on gender-neutral housing. There is talk about a 600 person dorm in East Village so we might want to come up with a proposal to guarantee that this is a part of the University’s initiative to be progressive and to accommodate every matriculated student.

Events of interest

1) Next Friday, November 2^nd, Lucas will be performing at Sarah Lawrence’s “Cross Dress Cabaret.” Email him if you would like to attend or would like more information about the event.

2) Thursday, November 8th @ 7PM – Free
Reading: Eve Ensler (writer of the Vagina Monologues) & Alix Olson "Word Warriors"
"Word Warriors: 35 Women Leaders in the Spoken Word Revolution" is a collection of oral poetry and lithely muscled voices. Its contributors are women who think and act decisively to create their distinctive 21st century realities. The combination of the slam movement and bold underground feminism has created a unique pool of women who verbally challenge society on all fronts. Come hear them! Contributors include: Alix Olson, Patty Smith, Eileen Myles, Sarah Jones, Lynn Breedlove, and Suheir Hammad.

a. We may be going as a group to see this so we’ll keep posting more information about meeting up as the event comes closer.

Events for next semester

1) “Vagina Monologues”

a. Lucas and Richenda (Moxie) are arranging with several others fundraising for the Vagina Monologues in February.

2) “I’m a Survivor” Month – March

a. Lucas mentioned that Charnell Covert (Women of Color) wants to host a domestic violence series of events in March. Will be a great opportunity to talk about this taboo topic in the GLBTQQ community.

3) “Bear”

a. Lucas also mentioned that LJ (The Lang Theater Collective) is going to be act out the play “Bear” which follows the tragic story of two young gay boys in Catholic School.

Overview of NCOD and prep for Movie Screening - Minutes

O.P.E.N. Minutes 10/17/07

4PM

1. “But I’m A Cheerleader”
1. Going on tomorrow Oct 18^th from 6:30 – 7:30 PM in the Student Activities Space (Ground floor of the 55 W 13^th St Building)
2. Allan, Josie, and Megan will be in charge of picking up the cupcakes from Billy’s – order of 60 to be exact.
3. Anthony and Harper will be in charge of getting snacks
4. We have 10 silver bullet vibrators from Babeland (5 donated, 5 purchased)
5. We’re all going to meet at 6PM in the Student Activities Space to begin setting up.
2. De-brief of events from last week
1. National Coming Out Day

i. The O.P.E.N. Chair – Courtyard

1. What went well

a. We ran out of cookies

b. The people who did stand up, were great

2. What didn’t go so well

a. Many side comments were made

b. Could’ve been presented better

3. What to take away from it

a. Better Presentation

b. Always having at least two members present at any event we host

ii. Coming Out Career Panel

1. What went well

a. The Panel was AMAZING

b. Made a lot of good contacts

c. We were interviewed by the New School Free Press!

2. What didn’t go so well

a. Poor attendance because of the rain (we think)

3. What to take away from it

a. Knowing that weather plays a huge role in attendance

iii. ENDA Phonebank

1. What went well

a. Great overall turnout

b. Managed to get about 195 people to contact their respective congressmen to fight for ENDA

2. What didn’t go so well

a. Poor attendance from the New School

b. ENDA more than likely to pass without the trans-inclusive aspect.

3. What to take away from it

a. More publicity

2. Primary Party

1. What went well

a. 30 – 40 people registered to vote

2. What didn’t go so well

a. Event not advertised well, so poor turnout

b. Not enough student org representation

3. What to take away from it

a. Work on presenting our group better

b. Be a part of events that we know are going to be worth going to.

c. Working on a concise, quick Fact Sheet of all of the candidates if we were to do this again.

3. Nature of events
1. It was discussed that we need to be able to reach out to the LGBTQQ community more by having great events that allow people to be comfortable in their own skin.
2. Many great points were made that aren’t only concerns of our group, but mostly of student organizations in general.
3. For future events, we need to reach out to marginalized sub sectors of the LGBTQQ community such as the trans community and minorities.

Things to talk about next week

1) Movie Screening in November

2) World AIDS Day in December

3) Having a trans focused event by the end of the semester?

More NCOD and ENDA and Minutes - 10/10/07

Attendance: Allan, Megan, Lucas, Josie, Kaleb, Natalie, Peter, David, Natalia, Carlie, and Al.

First and foremost, it was Harper’s birthday today so Happy Birthday from all of us! ! !

Secondly, check out www.opennewschool.blogspot.com where we post all of our event information and weekly minutes so you can stay in the know!

Items Discussed

1. Primary Party – Wednesday Oct 10^th, 9PM -- 65 5^th Ave Cafeteria
1. OSDA hosted an information session for presidential candidates that discussed their stances on various issues.
2. Anthony will talk about how it went at next week’s meeting.
2. National Coming Out Day
1. O.P.E.N. Mic – Thursday Oct 11^th, 11:40 PM - Noon – Lang Courtyard

i. We won’t have a microphone to use in the Courtyard.

ii. We will still do our little “Coming Out” shout outs

1. Meet at 11:30 in the Courtyard to begin setting up.

2. Kaleb and Josie will be in charge of making a sign for a chair where we’d stand out and come out officially to the New School community as well as managing to bring in a door to symbolize coming out.

3. Allan will buy some rainbow cookies to give out to people who do stand up on the chair and “come out.”

4. Everyone will bring Rainbow paraphernalia (wristbands, boas, t-shirts, etc) to make this event more festive.

2. “Out at Work Career Panel” – Thursday Oct 11^th, 6PM – 7:30PM -- Wolff Conference Room, 65^th 5^th Ave 2^nd Floor.

i. Plain and simple, come to the event! Tell your friends!

ii. Snacks will be served

iii. Lucas and Allan will be tabling outside prior to the beginning.

3. ENDA Phonebank – Thursday Oct 11^th, 6PM – 9PM – The National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce, 80 Maiden Lane, St. 1504

i. Check out hopstop.com for directions or contact Harper (310) 639 0033

3. Budget Proposal for “But, I’m A Cheerleader”
1. Once we hear back from SAFC, we can determine whether we’ll have a budget to purchase cupcakes and/or vibrators to give away.

Pass on tomorrow’s event information to friends and other students! It’s crucial that we have strong student presence at these events. We appreciate all of your efforts in doing so.

Hope to see you all tomorrow! And if not, have a wonderful NCOD!

In solidarity,

Allan

Secretary

O.P.E.N.

NCOD, ENDA, and the Minutes 10/03/07

OPEN Minutes 09/03/07

Attendance: Allan, Lucas, Harper, Kaleb, Josie, Liza, Anthony, Peter, Elizabeth, and Julia.

1. “Out at Work” Career Panel

a. Thursday Oct 11^th 2007 from 6 – 7:30 PM in the Wolff Conference Room, second floor of the 65 5^th Ave building.

b. We will be having a table at this event so we’ll have sign up sheets for people to have their emails for the mailing list.

c. The Panel will be comprised of representatives from the LGBTQ center, G.L.A.A.D, and other “out” professionals.

2. “But I’m A Cheerleader”

a. Thursday Oct 18^th 2007 from 6:30 – 8:30PM in the Student Activity Space, the ground floor of the 55 West 13^th building.

b. Screening of the movie “But I’m A Cheerleader” as well as little ice breakers, food, and possibly free vibrators from Babeland (still up in the air).

3. “Tranny Fags”

a. We are shooting to do this event during late October/ Mid November.

b. We will be co-sponsoring this event with Moxie, the feminist organization on campus.

4. ENDA (Employee Non-Discrimination Act)

a. In light of recent events of the ENDA bill potentially being passed without being gender identity inclusive is a slap to the face to the LGBTQQ community.

b. Harper works for the National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce and assisting a phonebank on National Coming Out Day, Oct 11^th 2007 from 6 – 9PM.

c. If you would like more information, contact Harper Keenan (hbkeenan@gmail.com)

d. We realize that this is in conflict with the Out at Work Career Panel so whichever event you feel is more important to you, just attend/help out at either event. There’s also the option of going to the phone bank after the Career Panel discussion.

5. World AIDS Day

a. Allan is coordinating an art gallery event with Ashley Grosso.

b. Anthony and Paul will continue to talk about focusing on a “Sex Positive” Workshop for that week.

6. CUNY Queer Conference

a. Speaking of World AIDS Day, the CUNY school system is hosting a Queer Conference on Saturday Dec, 1^st 2007. We are invited to the day long workshop if we so choose to attend.

b. Harper also mentioned that the National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce is hosting a day long organizing skills day long workshop as well. Again, whichever event you feel is more pertinent to your particular interests should be your preference for attending either event.

7. Primary Party

a. The OSDA is coordinating an information session of the candidates for the 2008 election and wants us to have a booth set up to discuss the GLBTQQ stances of all of the candidates in the running for presidency.

b. The event is happening next Wednesday, October 10th 2007 in the 65 5th Avenue Cafeteria from 7-9 pm.

c. Allan and Anthony will help to represent OPEN for this event, and anyone else who’s interested. Let us know!

8. Movie Committee

a. After extensive discussions for having a monthly movie night for the year, we decided it’d make sense to have a committee. So far, it is comprised of Lucas, Josie, and Kaleb although if anyone else would like to pitch ideas or help coordinating the events, you’re more than welcome to help.

b. Some movie ideas included showing “The Bubble,” “Mysterious Skin.” “Time to Leave,” “Baby Cub,” “Queens (Reinas),” and many more.

Other things

1. Open Mic in the courtyard – National Coming Out Day
1. Allan has been in contact with Guinevere Molina, the head go to person from the OSDA about trying to allow us to have a mic and speaker in the Lang Courtyard during NCOD.
2. If it is the case, Ivan Raykoff, the professor who’s teaching a Queer Studies class, wants to have the student’s work presented during the potential event (thanks Josie!)
3. Once we get the thumbs up from Guinevere we can begin to coordinate setting up for the day.

Announcements

1. First Friday Dance @ Columbia University!
1. Columbia’s Queer Alliance is throwing a LGBTQQ party this Friday from 10PM – 3AM.
2. More information at this site: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/quam/
2. Crossdress Cabaret @ Sarah Lawrence featuring our group’s own VENDETTA
1. Happening on Friday, November 2^nd.
2. Sarah Lawrence’s own Amateur Drag Show. More information TBA or email Lucas Brooks.

The Out At Work Panel Discussion!

The Office of Career Development, OSDA, Student Housing, Intercultural Support and O.P.E.N. proudly announce:

Coming Out Day Career Panel
Employers speak about lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender advocacy and issues in the workplace!!

Thursday, Oct. 11th
6pm-7:30pm
65 Fifth Avenue, 2nd Floor
Wolff Conference Room

Panelist include representatives from:
The LGBT Community Center
Out Professionals (the Nation's largest LGBT networking organization)
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (G.L.A.A.D.)
and more....

Refreshments will be served! For more information, please contact The Office of Career Development at 212-229-1324.

EMERGENCY CALL TO ACTION: Police Brutality after SRLP benefit

FYI: Sylvia Rivera Law Project is a collective-run organization/law firm that serves the transgender and gender non conforming communities of color in NYC. I was at the benefit, but skipped out on the afterparty. The benefit itself felt a lot like a family reunion instead of the kind of pretentious formality that you usually expect from fundraisers.

As Dean Spade, the lead founder of SRLP, said last night in his speech, "[Trans and gender non conforming people] are told we cannot exist, that we are doing the impossible." Last night, hundreds of "impossibilities" gathered to celebrate our victories and our communities, and the NYPD saw this as an opportunity to use violence and fear to slow our movement. This is certainly a reaffirmation for me that we cannot rest until we end our government's war on queers, trans people, and people of color. Let's do our best to support these folks, I'll keep you posted as more info comes out.

-----------


PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY

At the Sylvia Rivera Law Project's after-party following its fifth
anniversary celebration last night, two members of the community were
violently arrested and others were pepper sprayed by police without
warning or cause. The two folks who were arrested remain in police
custody and should be arraigned tomorrow. (More details of the
incident can be found below in the press release.)

We ask that people show up tomorrow, Thursday, starting at 9:30am and
continuing throughout the day to call for the immediate release of and
the dropping of charges against the people who were arrested. The
arraignment court rooms are at 100 Centre St (Directions: No. 4 or 5
train to Brooklyn Bridge Station; No. 6 train, N, R or C train to
Canal Street; No. 1 train to Franklin Street; M1, M6 and M15 bus lines
are nearby. 100 Centre Street is one block north of Worth Street,
three blocks south of Canal Street.) Ask for directions to the
arraignment rooms at the info desk when you enter.

For more information or to receive updates via email or text message,
contact Jack at jack@srlp.org, who should be at court and have email
access throughout the day.


PRESS RELEASE:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Jack Aponte (jack@srlp.org, 347-247-1526)
Naomi Clark (naomi@srlp.org, 917-907-4870)


Police Brutality Strikes Fifth Anniversary of Sylvia Rivera Law Project

NEW YORK - On the night of Wednesday, September 26, officers from the
9th Precinct of the New York Police Department attacked without
provocation members of the Sylvia Rivera Law Project and of its
community. Two of our community members were violently arrested, and
others were pepper sprayed in the face without warning or cause.

The Sylvia Rivera Law Project (www.srlp.org) is an organization that
works on behalf of low-income people of color who are transgender,
gender non-conforming, or intersex, providing free legal services and
advocacy among many other initiatives. On Wednesday night, the Sylvia
Rivera Law Project was celebrating its fifth anniversary with a
celebration and fundraising event at a bar in the East Village.

A group of our community members, consisting largely of queer and
transgender people of color, witnessed two officers attempting to
detain a young Black man outside of the bar. Several of our community
members asked the officers why they were making the arrest and using
excessive force. Despite the fact that our community was on the
sidewalk, gathered peacefully and not obstructing foot traffic, the
NYPD chose to forcefully grab two people and arrested them. Without
warning, an officer then sprayed pepper spray across the group in a
wide arc, temporarily blinding many and causing vomiting and intense
pain.

"This is the sort of all-too-common police violence and overreaction
towards people of color that happens all the time," said Dean Spade,
founder of the Sylvia Rivera Law Project. "It's ironic that we were
celebrating the work of an organization that specifically opposes
state violence against marginalized communities, and we experienced a
police attack at our celebration."

"We are outraged, and demand that our community members be released
and the police be held accountable for unnecessary use of excessive
force and falsely arresting people," Spade continued.

Damaris Reyes is executive director of GOLES, an organization working
to preserve the Lower East Side. She commented, "I'm extremely
concerned and disappointed by the 9th Precinct's response to the
situation and how it escalated into violence. This kind of aggressive
behavior doesn't do them any good in community-police relations."

Supporters will be gathering at 100 Centre Street tomorrow, where the
two community members will be arraigned. The community calls for
charges to be dropped and to demand the immediate release of those
arrested.

- END -


On Saturday at 7 PM in Washington Square Park, there will be a protest organized by the Radical Homosexual Agenda ( http:www.radicalhomosexual

agenda.org ) to protest Christine Quinn and the NYC government's new laws about protest permits. I won't be able to go (I'm out of town this weekend), but it would be great to have some New School presence there.

UPDATE:


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Police Brutality Strikes Fifth Anniversary of Sylvia Rivera Law Project

Contacts:
Jack Aponte jack (AT) srlp (DOT) org
Naomi Clark naomi (AT) srlp (DOT) org

UPDATE: 8:30pm Thursday 9/27

Reggie and Ileana have just been released from police custody! The DA
declined prosecution, which means that no charges are being pressed. They
are free and clear, and are now getting the support they need from their
community - in person.

We are all thrilled by this result, the only truly just outcome after a
long night and day of injustice. Thank you to everyone who has helped out
and expressed support, including all of the allied organizations, fellow
activists, community members and councilpeople who stepped up to support
us.

Although they have thankfully been released, our work around this incident
is not finished. Now it is time to hold the police accountable for the
unnecessary force and community targeting that occurred last night, and
work so that no more incidents like this happen again to our community. We
will keep you all posted as to our next steps and ways to plug in.

UPDATE: 7:15pm Thursday 9/27
from the office of Rosie Mendez:

City Councilwoman Rosie Mendez asked me to inform you that she has spoken
the Manhattan DA regarding this matter. As of about 6:00 PM she was told
that the two arrested persons will be released shortly. The DA is
assessing the possibility of dropping the charges completely, but this is
not yet certain. Rosie herself wrote a letter to the DA asking for the
charges to be dropped.

She has also been in contact with the other three out LGBT downtown
elected officials - NYS Senator Duane, NYS Assemblymember Glick and NYC
Council Speaker Quinn. All have contacted the DA and expressed their
concern over the incident and their interest in seeing the arrested
persons released as quickly as possible.

Minutes! Part Three! 9/27

O.P.E.N. Minutes 09/26/07

Wednesday 5PM

Attendance: Harper, Kaleb, Natalia, Josie, David, Kate, Anthony, Peter, Eliza, Lucas, Allan, Conrad, Sandy

Website: www.opennewschool.blogspot.com

Updates

1) “But, I’m A Cheerleader”

a. We have the Student Activities Space Conference Room in the 55W 13^th St. Thursday, Oct 18^th from 6:15 – 8:45PM meaning we could start at around 6:30 and be out by 8:30 so that we can have some time to set up and clean up.

To do List

-Allan will follow up with Kate to talk about purchasing food/materials for the event

-Kaleb will offer his cupcake making abilities as long as someone offers their oven. Allan would be more than willing to if he wasn’t so busy on Thursday afternoons. Can anyone else volunteer their oven for that day?

-Harper will follow up with Babeland about getting vibrators for the event.

-Allan will also be in charge of coming up with a flyer for the event to begin distributing two weeks prior (early October).

2) “Trannyfags”

a. Harper told us that Marty is more than willing to stop by the school for a discussion about “Trannyfags.”

To do List

- Harper will fill out a Program Registration Form for the event and will coordinate it alongside Sandy.

3) National Coming Out Day

a. “Out at Work”

a. Career Services is planning/hosting an employer panel that will discuss the topic of being a person of the GBLTQQ community in the workplace. Our job here is to spread the word on behalf of them so that we can get as many people as possible to go.

b. “Mic in the courtyard”

a. Conrad suggested the idea of having a microphone where people can walk up to it and tell their coming out story. In addition to tabling, this could be a good way of advertising our group as well as for the “But, I’m a Cheerleader” movie screening the week after.

To Do List

-Allan will contact Guinevere about the possibility of doing something like that in the Lang courtyard as well as to inquire about whether we’d be violating any noise policies.

-Lucas, Allan, and Eliza will help to coordinate the Mic portion of the day.

Potential Upcoming events

1) Sarah Lawrence Visits

To Do List

-Harper will keep us posted on upcoming Queer events up at Sarah Lawrence that we could attend as a group.

2) CUNY Queer Conference

To do List

-Harper and Allan will keep up with the going ons with this event as it is an all inclusive day long conference for all GBLTQQ college students in the NYC area.

3) World AIDS Day

a. Tumbler Blog

i. Kate had an idea of doing a building block of blogs that highlight AIDS issues.

b. Pamphlets/Fact Campaign

i. It was suggested that we disseminate shocking information about current AIDS statistics from around the world and probably even the New School. Theme possible: New School & AIDS

c. Discussion: “Sex Positive In Light of AIDS”

i. Peter brought up a really good point in stating that students probably go through AIDS fatigue in that most campaigns focus mostly on the negative aspects of the disease.

ii. It is entirely possible to highlight how well people our age have been dealing with the disease, despite the connotation of death alongside it.

d. AIDS Art Gallery

i. Allan will be in contact with Ashley Grosso, a grad student whose work focused on art that dealt with AIDS issues.

To Do List

-Anthony and Peter will help to coordinate a discussion as opposed to a panel discussion or a movie screening.

-Allan will follow up with Ashley about possibly beginning the paperwork for the event in terms of the Art Gallery.

That is all for now, again please check out our blog that will soon be filled with events of interest to save email space.

Out meeting will be next Wednesday, Oct 3^rd at 5PM in the Lang Café.

If possible, we might host a meeting in Kate’s apartment which is over on 13^th ST and 1^st Ave.

In solidarity,

Allan

Secretary

O.P.E.N.

Websites of interest

1. www.gaycenter.org

2. www.nyu.edu/csgs/

3. www.hrc.org

Events of interest

1. "Parade Without A Permit" -- Washington Square Park @7PM. Protest against the newly formed NYPD parading laws which require gatherings of larger than 50 people to pass through the NYPD first. MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD BY ATTENDING THIS EVENT! But be smart to avoid getting arrested.

2. 02 October 2007 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

The Writing Program at The New School presents Carrie Brownstein, a guitarist and singer in the band Sleater-Kinney, who is also a writer. Brownstein will read some of her recent writing and talk about music and culture. Greil Marcus, faculty member of the Writing Program, moderates this event.

Location:

The New School, 66 West 12th Street, room 510

Admission:

$5; free to all students and New School faculty, staff, and alumni with ID

Box Office Information:

In person purchases can be made at The New School Box Office at 66 West 12th Street, main floor, Monday- Friday 1:00-7:00 p.m.