First Meeting: 2/7

The first meeting of the semester will be on Thursday Feb. 7th, in the Lang building (11th St)’s basement.

Moxie Minutes, 11/8

MOXIE Notes
Thursday November 8, 2007

EVENTS:

Street Harassment event has been officially approved for November 29th from 6 to 8pm. The self-defense workshop is tentatively set for December 6th.

Start flyer preparation!

General:

Lollipops:
A set of 50 is $42.90. We could sell them for $2 each to raise money for V-Day and for Eve Ensler to speak. We could also do a promotion where 1/$2.00 and 3/$5.00. We’re going to buy 3 sets of the lollipops to start with before we order any more.

Suggestions:

Co-host with the residence halls in the spring another self-defense workshop. However, one would have to participate in the first two workshops to do the third (which would consist of practicing techniques on a man). But in the third workshop the abilities can be split into groups.

Discussion:

A bit of continuation from last week concerning the way females dress and if we’re ever responsible for it, as in “certain things attract attention” and thus, to wear or not to wear?
–When is the line crossed? There is a line between good/bad/middle intentions.

Strip classes as exercise.
–”Women’s job” to enliven bedroom..–why?
–Kinky things becoming mainstream.

Abortion in Hollywood
–Negativity of its portrayal Or women never having to make the decision
–How “should” it be portrayed?

Kids and Masturbation
–It’s a taboo
–Censorship of it as ultimately damaging to the kids
–Sex Ed (or lack thereof) in schools; how it is sterilized

Moxie Minutes, 11/1

MOXIE Minutes
Thursday November 1, 2007

EVENTS:

The money for the self-defense workshop was approved however, the wrong room is booked (the conference room.) Since the instructor hasn’t responded yet, we are going to try and postpone the workshop until later in November. We could do street harassment first, then self-defense the following week.

Hollaback would be interested in speaking; sliding scale pricing.

Perhaps a two-part Event?
Could show “Warzone” (Bobst library has it.) Discussion afterwards and then a week later have Hollaback come in.
Show the movie November 15th then the week after have Hollaback speak, and the week after that have the self defense workshop. OR possibly movie and Hollaback event on same day?
Could show 15 min of “Warzone” for educational purposes. Start at 6, be out by 745. But just as it’s getting good, would it be cut short? Yet, no one is going to want to stay until 9 or 10. 2 hour time slot. Set up before 6 plus food.

NEW EVENT DATE:
Hollaback last Thursday of November (the 29th) Self defense workshop about Dec 5th.

Now in the process of raising $4,000 to get Eve Ensler to speak! Perhaps sell something at event?

Discussion:

“Every feminist hates men” “Feminazi” which led to:

How do you deal w/ ignorant comments in a nice way?
Getting angry is not effective.
Do it with a smile! Approach it like they’re five, “that’s one way of looking at it, here’s another”
We don’t come equipped w/ ways of looking at world.

Words as internalized hate. Various words–i.e. bitch =”whiny women”, feminized
Perhaps have a workshop on those words and ways of not getting angry with ignorant comments.
Reclaiming words is a personal choice. One way of doing this is by “flipping” words. Example: That is so “hetero” instead of “gay”

Women being stared at/harassed/etc — some claim it’s the way you dress–however, some studies show that this isn’t the case (by switching up the manner of dressing)
If one does the same thing to men–is this perhaps counter-intuitive? Also, doesn’t address the problem however, possibly interesting as a study case.
It’s a cultural thing, but this doesn’t justify it. Don’t have to address culture per say, rather the individual and why they’re acting out in that way.

Once you gain access to the “male world”– feel need to protect it, look down on younger girls who try to; one wants to be the one exception. Why is this the case?
Being proud of having boys’ toys. “One of the guys”, don’t want other girls in

Moxie Minutes, 10/25

MOXIE Minutes
Thursday October 25, 2007

Sorry this took me so long to send out!!

EVENTS:

Erica already re-updated us concerning Hollaback and the self-defense workshop–

Richenda is filing paperwork for clueless.

Eve Ensler–$15,000 to get her to speak, which goes back to V-day. Want to use Moxie (so that it’s coming from students) when asking for money. -Moxie helped sponsor–will be on flyers, have table at event. We need more people for behind the scenes work at “The Vagina Monologues.” next meeting is tomorrow (November 2nd), 4:30pm in 13th street student activities space. first floor, go to left. Need help on organizing, fundraising, flyering, etc.

Discussion:

Abortion Conference Report Back

One person asked, “the argument for being pro-life is taking a life, is there any argument on the pro-choice argument as strong?” All people on panel pro-choice. Response–Can’t consider it a life, so many ramifications if that’s the case. Doesn’t make sense. So many definitions of what counts as a life. 10 major religions accept abortion in certain circumstances, even contraception. There was even a saint that was feminist and pro-abortion. Two on the panel were Catholic, shows that religion can’t be an excuse for being pro-life.

Costumes:
“slutty” costume–debate over whether it’s degrading to women. “bad-girl personas.” “empowered hot” –as “another way women self-sabotage by unwittingly absorbing cultural ideas that are, at first glance, desirable qualities females should have.” Settling for “objectifying socially sanctioned roles–maid, nurse, etc.” expected that a girl has to be showing skin. Guys dressing up women–”funny”. Culturally offensive–geisha costumes, etc. stereotyping culture. “exotic asian women”

Maine Situation:
A middle school in Maine is offering birth control to girls there (11, 12 years old) as a result of an outbreak of pregnancies at the school. Extremely controversial.

The “Rape Condom”:
Intended as determent and prevent spread of HIV/AIDS. It was developed in South Africa. Not a solution necessarily. They are still developing it and getting funding to sell it. More information for the interested here: http://www.rapestop.net/

Suggestions:

“War Zone” movie–woman took camera out on streets, confronted men when harassed. Could possibly show that movie here

Take Back the Night kit –perhaps in warmer months of April we could plan this. Bring in other chapters, such as NYU

Get together with Women of Color, go to one of their meetings and get their presence at our meetings.

Moxie Minutes, 10/18

MOXIE Minutes
Thursday October 18, 2007

General:

Good news!
We don’t have to buy movie rights for “Clueless” because it’s educational! Perhaps plan it for somewhere after Thanksgiving and before finals/break. At mid-point. Just need two weeks to put the word out. We should probably have it on a Thursday instead of a meeting. We need to make sure OPEN isn’t doing something the same day.

No word back from OSDA if they’re going to fund the self-defense workshop yet. Steve McAllister said he’s done a lot of this before and wants to talk to us about ideas and stuff. A couple members responded to his e-mail, but he hasn’t replied back yet.

Events:

What time/date for street harassment? Definitely get it in this semester. How should we structure it? Don’t want just discussion. Want it in within next week of self-defense. Guest speakers? Perhaps on November 15th? Self-defense before that, on November 9th, which is a Friday, when the instructor could come. Plan street harassment around who we can get. Get someone from Hollaback?? Erica will email someone from it and ask about getting them to speak. Show clips from their website.
Any back-up ideas if we can’t get someone from Hollaback? Vlada and Erica will talk to Anne, she knows a lot of people.

Date for Clueless: December 6th
What kind of food? We only 50 bucks, request more? Alcohol at event (wine?) However, it’s doubtful that they would allow it at an undergrad event
After we get finalized info for the event, we can send flyers to OSDA so they can distribute them to dorms

Do we as Moxie want to do something for street harassment (techniques, discussion, etc) or just leave it up to speaker??? Depends on how much speaker has to talk about. Moxie can moderate, have questions to redirect things.

Suggestions:
Get Babeland to sponsor something with us?

Upcoming Events:
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
The Abortion Controversies
7-9 PM
Wollman Hall, 65 W. 11th St., 5th Floor (enter at 66 W. 12th St.)

Moxie Minutes, 10/11

MOXIE Minutes 
Thursday October 11, 2007

General:

The permanent meeting space for this semester is now located in the basement of 65 E 11th, Room 50, big thanks to Richenda for securing it!

There is no active business because we are waiting to hear back from OSDA on funding. The request for $300 for the “Clueless” screening is in, plus snacks. A $400 request was also put in for the self-defense workshop however, the street harassment one was not, and will have to wait.

General Discussion:

Doris Lessing won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Many consider her to be a feminist writer. She is best known for “The Golden Notebook.”

The “Relationships, Sex, and Intimacy” presentation to the freshmen during Workshop was essentially a bomb. It only went through a short list of STDs and an anonymous sex survey. Why aren’t we talking about consent and dangers in city specifically??? Or a presentation about being safe in the dorm?

Discussion Topic: National Coming Out Day

Today is Coming Out Day (October 11th). However, there was no open mic in the courtyard as planned, just a person yelling “it’s coming out day!” It was not seen as very effective. The point of it wasn’t for it to be forced on you, like you had to “come out” that day. It could be stories about when you came out and what the experience was like.
*
“I just like who i like when i like them” –it’s an unspoken thing; a person doesn’t have to pronounce a specific preference/gender.
*
“Anybody have a relationship with their parents where they can talk about sex?”
–a few Moxie members shared their personal stories.

Suggestions:

LSU should buy megaphone for student use.

*Moxie should put out a quarter page flyer type thing; use bright paper and place it near the New School newspaper so that people automatically pick it up. Different people can write different things each week. We can include links, pictures, logo, graphics, etc. Essentially it would be a mini-newspaper designed to engage the community.
Perhaps talk to NSU newspaper about advertising Moxie events? If we place advertisements, it probably won’t be cheap but we can try.

Upcoming Events:

The Monday before Halloween (the 29th) there will be a party organized by the Student Activities Board. There will be drink deals for the NS students that are 21. Flyers will be posted (name of location). The SAB meets at 6 on Fridays.

In November–OPEN will be showing “Trannyfags”, which we might not have to pay for. There will be a discussion afterwards. Moxie could run the event in conjunction with OPEN; could show clips instead of entire movie. We should probably screen it beforehand to see if it’s worthwhile.

Feminist Pedagogy Conference is/was October 12th. There was various workshops on race theory, porn, etc. Hopefully we’ll hear more about that at the next meeting.

October 23rd–The Abortion Conference

Gender Studies Minor Events:
November 8th: “BioSecurity & Bodily Exposures: Notes on the Sexual Politics of Defense”
December 4th: “The Touch of Sea in Greeting: Judith Wright: Poet, Housewife, EcoFeminist”

Other Discussions:

Why are there so few young feminists? Are they intimidated by the “older feminists” who might not be able to identify with us? Are their issues even the same as ours? Even within a five year gap there is a huge difference with what we grow up in versus what the older women did. However, age is not the only factor–there is class, race, sexuality, etc. It should be expected that age is a factor.
There has been no real, actual feminist response to attitudes towards women since around the Reagan era. People tend to think of Feminism of something that is past, behind us, and doesn’t need to be worked on anymore.
How does the younger crowd get involved with making a difference? Everyone has to start somewhere, so where do we begin?

The Moxie Logo:

Currently it is the blank and pink Moxie one. Should we have images instead? The “official” feminist symbol is not often used (the female symbol with the fist in the middle.) However, we may just stick with the logo we currently have. For the Moxie blog we could use an image but for advertising purposes just use the simple text.

Moxie Minutes, 10/4

MOXIE Minutes
Thursday October 4, 2007
6pm to 7:15pm

General:

Conference room may become permanent meeting space (the one across from the Lang Cafe.)

EVENTS:

The Vagina Monologues Production: (written by Eve Ensler)

Going into third year of production at NSU; student run.
Starting earlier this year
It’s a global movement and fundraiser for stopping violence against women. Helps to empower women
Raises money for organization of our choice. Last year the organization was Safer.
First meeting for V-day and The Vagina Monologues was October 4th. Working on publicity of it and organizational things. Casting and auditions probably in december.
Fundraising should begin now, before vagina monologues, so we can give more money to organizations that help women.
Moxie can get a table at V-day event.
Next V-day Organization meeting is October 19th at 3pm 55 W 13th St

For more information check out http://www.vday.org/main.html

There will be a “teach in” with SAFER (students active for ending rape)–will be looking into policies on sexual assault on campus. Takes place over few hours. http://www.safercampus.org/
Email Alisa McGee if any questions. McGeeA@newschool.edu

At Moxie table what would we have?

Suggestions:
Sell chocolate vaginas for a month or so beforehand–people would like it and it would publicize the production. Would complement Moxie masturbation month (also in February)

How involved do we want Moxie to be in V-day event????
*We can organize a trip to see the performance or we can help put it together, raise money for it, join cast,
*Depending on how involved we are, Moxie can be on the VM flyer.

Possibility of getting EVE ENSLER herself to speak at event.
Her speech fee is thousands of dollars–we would need a lot of fundraising to make that happen.

Fundraising Ideas:
*Movie screenings however, cannot make money on movie itself but on food. But people might be pissed we’re charging for food because they can typically get it for free. There’s also a large availability of things like pizza, might not bother buying it at event.
*Sell chocolate vaginas
*Moxie members can walk around with a box and sell lollipops or something. We can sell anything prepackaged but we just can’t make it ourselves.
*Sell food at regular events as well. Target specific kinds of things to sell with types of lectures and whatnot.
*Sell VM book and DVD
*Official VM shirt? Pins? Sell them as well.

There is a separate committee for fundraising VM however, we can feed ideas into them.

Richenda is going to email about a table at the event and getting Moxie involved. Make sure there’s staff at all the times.

Advertising VM–post flyers in cafes and elsewhere, try to get outside people to come in. Also a good way to fundraise.

Advertise Moxie itself more at the event as well. Direct people to Moxie’s blog. https://moxierocks.wordpress.com/

What is the The Vagina Monologues?
It started out as one woman show.
Vaginas are internal, not seen, repressed, people don’t want to talk about female sexuality. People don’t want to talk about or say “vagina”. It’s a way to get people for people to talk about it and have a discussion.
Different tones of monologues–can be sad, tragic, comical. A different monologue for a woman every year–last year’s was based on the rape and brutalization of a woman.

Discussion Questions:
How do you percieve construction workers?
*Reminds you how you’re subordinate.
*It’s sometimes too late to respond so don’t bother
*Some women starting to take it as compliment to be cat-called/etc
*Is a stare better than a vulgar comment??
Just as bad, objectified nevertheless.
*If you don‘t know what they’re saying is it worse or better?
*Do they like it better when you’re rude back?
Being a smart-ass probably won’t change anything/may just encourage them. Can get self in trouble by verbally talking back.
*Sometimes funny but still creepy, i.e. “your vagina must be warm!”

*Man In White!! Is he a pimp? Always by 6th ave by pet shop in all pure white. He will ask for sexual favors. How do you respond???

*Inform people of different kinds of mace, hand it out. However, some states have outlawed it. If you use it, person can sue you for macing him.

*Be careful of generalizations and ethnocentrism regarding circumcision of women–it’s a “cultural thing.” However, there is debate over this.

Perhaps coordinate self defense workshop with SAFER? Get Erica in contact with Alisa concerning this.

Vagina Monologues

The New School’s production of the Vagina Monologues is getting underway, and Moxie is getting behind the V-Day Effort. This year the project wants to surpass its fund-raising goal from last year, and try to raise enough for Eve Ensler, author of the Vagina Monologues, to speak at the New School.

Moxie is planning to help with fund raising this year, as well as participating in the production process on a voluntary basis.

The next meeting for the Vagina Monologues organizers is Friday, October 19th at 3pm. Keep an eye out for flyers across campus. EVERYONE is welcome to participate, male and female.

For more info about the Vagina Monologues and the V-Day campaign to end violence against women, visit: http://www.vday.org

Minutes: 9/20

Moxie Meeting Minutes for 9/20

• Welcome!
  • We had a really nice turnout despite problems with advertising. Thank you, everyone who came, both new and previous members!
  • Mailing List
    • If you would like to be notified of upcoming Moxie events,
• Changes at the OSDA
  • Mandatory Training
    • There was a mandatory training session for student organizations this week. Erica Reade attended (THANK YOU, ERICA!) and is now the most informed person about official policies.
  • Re-Recognition
    • We need to turn in our re-recognition forms this coming week in order to get funding soon, etc. Ann Snitow dropped by and signed the form for us, people at the meeting signed on as official members, and some people were placed into official roles. We will need to revise our constitution and fill out the rest of the paperwork before it can be turned in.
  • Roles
    • To make things easier to manage, roles have been assigned.
      • OSDA contact: Erica Reade
      • Treasurer: Liza Bley
      • Advertising & Communications: Richenda Gould
      • Secretary: Jill Pason
  • Budgeting
    • The first budgeting deadline is fast approaching. We will need to decide on any events in the coming 1-2 months and determine if they need funding.
  • Meeting Space
    • Richenda emailed Kate, and we need to fill in an event request form in order to secure a weekly space. Richenda and Vlada will make sure this gets done.
  • Meeting Formats
    • This semester we’ll try something new. Each week our meetings will have a different focus; some will be for planning, some for discussion, fun, etc. You can keep track of what will be happening when via <a href=”http://www.google.com/calendar/render?cid=nl4b6306r4seonppu8a1nhi0i8%40group.calendar.google.com&#8221; mce_href=”http://www.google.com/calendar/render?cid=nl4b6306r4seonppu8a1nhi0i8%40group.calendar.google.com&#8221; target=”_blank”><img src=”http://www.google.com/calendar/images/ext/gc_button1_en.gif&#8221; mce_src=”http://www.google.com/calendar/images/ext/gc_button1_en.gif&#8221; border=”0″ /></a>
• OPEN’s upcoming event: But I’m a Cheerleader!
  • OPEN will be screening the comedy “But! I’m a Cheerleader!” on Thursday, September 27^th from 6PM – 8:30PM in the 8 E. 16^th ST Building in room 1106. This does overlap with our meeting, so we understand if you bail on us to go chill with them. OPEN is the Out, Proud Environment at the New School.
• Potential Events/Causes
  • We brainstormed for events and issues to focus on this semester. We will need to make some decisions in the next week or so, as we want time to plan and get budgeting approved. It was decided that the ideas would be sent out via email, and next week we will have a vote. Ideas were as follows.
    • Self Defense Workshop. A continuation of Erica’s previous events, involves hiring someone to come in and teach people how to defend themselves.
    • Verbal/Street Harassment. (Popular) Looking for methods to combat, possibly working with Holler Back NY. We may already have a contact via Harmony.
    • Body Workshops. Understanding the body, body image, possibly with Babeland.
      • Health issues
      • Sex Ed
        • Contraception–prices
      • AIDs
    • Look for existing feminist issues and events already happening in NYC
      • Take Back the Night. This is an event/rally/march to reclaim safety on the street, in homes, etc. More info, and kits to run your own event (a lot of other schools seem to have done this) can be found here: http://www.takebackthenight.org/
    • A bulletin/newsletter/zine. Possibility has been discussed of Moxie putting out either a regular publication or a collaborative effort at the end of the year/semester.
    • The involvement of men in feminism, particularly in Moxie!
    • What Is Feminism, and why it’s considered an ‘outdated’ or even ‘dirty’ word. What constitutes a feminist? Open discussion, hopefully with Ann Snitow.
    • Issues surrounding AIDs and helping to prevent the spread. Heterosexual women are one of the fastest growing groups of new infectees.
    • Bike Workshop, encourage women to be involved in a hands-on activity that is often dominated by men.
    • Continuation of porn talk series, viewing and discussion. We should try to get people involved in the sex work industry to participate, like Rachel or Harper’s contact who films transgender porn. Possibility of a co-event.
    • Consent workshop. What is consent and how do you give it?
    • A reading of feminist-oriented literature, etc., similar to the Lang Reading Series.
    • T-Shirts! We have PLENTY left over from previous Moxie Masturbation Months (February) and we’d quite like some new ones!
    • Teaching the teachers. Contact Eleni Litt, who teaches our teachers, and have her talk to Moxie about our experiences in the classroom. How feminism, gender issues, etc. have and are being handled at Lang and the NS in general.

• The Moxie Show!
  • Is an open-mic show by Collective Unconscious. http://www.nytheatre.com/nytheatre/moxi5664.htm Not feminist per se, but it’s got our name!
• Our next meeting will be Thursday the 27th. Time and location TBA, but probably 6:30ish in the Lang Cafe. As it is an informal discussion meeting, feel free to drop in when you can!
• Our first event will most likely be a screening of Clueless. Fun, a bit silly, and an opportunity for discussion afterwards about the merits of this popular film and the messages it gives.

Meeting Change

The first meeting of the year will be Thursday the 20th, NOT the 13th, due to the holiday. Still 6pm, still the Lang Cafe. Apologies for the confusion.