Anarchist Free University

Collective Meeting Minutes

10 September 2006

Present: Rachel (facilitator), Rob (minutes), Shawn, Ander, Dave, Mike, Nick, Jason, Todd, Possum, Milton.

• Introducing ourselves
• Admin crap - tabled
• Class proposals
• Web forum - tabled
• Accessibility issues - tabled
• Propaganda - tabled
• Promotion – tabled
• Party - tabled
• Course updates

Introductions

A quick go around helped us all get acquainted with each other. There was coffee on offer that folks helped themselves to.

Class Updates

Dave discussed his class on Russia and capital formation. Five people are very interested. Wants to open enrollment so people just show up. It’s held at the International Student Centre at U of T. Recognized groups get free space at U of T, but enrolled students have to form a student group. The group that Dave is part of is Socialist alternative.

Class proposals

1. Shawn is proposing a discussion group, co-facilitated by Carmen on current indigenous movements in the context of what is known as Canada. Proposal is a group that meets monthly on Saturdays and will be mostly discussion-based. Both Shawn and Carmen have had a lot of experience with Six Nations struggles and can incorporate perspectives from these contemporary struggles. Question around gender raised and how this will be framed to be inclusive of trans folks and two spirited people. Ander offered to email Shawn digital files of readings around gender issues. Rob will email Shawn (shawn.etoile.de.mer@gmail.com )—an email contact of limp fist to inquire about queer focused solidarity actions with the Caledonia struggles. Will be offered the 3rd Saturday of each month from 2-5 pm, starting on September 16, 2006.

The Collective accepted the course with two major concerns: avoid idea of talking on behalf of Native communities. Also, develop links with speakers who are involved in current struggles. Material around gender and sexuality and its intersection with Native communities would need to be developed.

2. Possum is offering a course on political issues surrounding the Internet. Lots of ground to cover in the syllabus. Course will run on Mondays from 7-9 pm; looking for space. Accepted.

3. Jason is offering a course on the cultural construction of male gender identities and its impact on everyday behaviour pattern. He wants to offer a 12 week course introducing the concept of gender and masculinities which will be a men’s group. Title: “Radical perspectives on masculinity.”

The breakdown of the topics covered will be:

1. Judith Butler, Undoing Gender 2. Disciplinary systems and its impact of gender (Military, police) 3. scientific theories of gender, Anne Fausto-Sterling 4. gender roles (work and family) 5. class, culture and ethnicity and masculinity 6. body image, “social meaning of muscle” 7. young boys and upbringing, sissies and tomboys (gender identity disorder) 8. sexuality and gender 9. masculinity and revolutionary organizing, Stick it to the manarchy. 10. men and identifying with the oppressor. Iraq war and garnering support for the war effort. 11. Jon Stoltenberg.

The group reached consensus whereby conditional approval of the course accpeted but we would like to see an outline with suggestions that we have discussed. Suggestions include thining through TG/TS issues and sexualities as they are connected to masculinties. Jason to circulate the proposal with an introduction to the course for final approval. Jason will offer the course in January and will bring a written outline with an introduction.

4. Milton re-proposing his course previously known as, "Anarchist Safety and Security" but it has morphed into the much more poetic: “The Tao/Zen, the Pen, & the Sword.” This is a ten week integrated approach to personal strategic evolution modelled after a comprehensive interdependent peace based on the 3 pillars of the universal application of human rights; not resisting the earth’s ability to self sustain itself and the complete repudiation and elimination of usury (exploitation). Cool. Suggestions for course development include giving folks more context in the goals and direction of the course and what folks should expect when they take the course. Course to be offered on Wednesday’s evenings for two hours. We asked Milton to flesh out the course details and we will hold off on its final approval until the next meeting.

Next meeting Tuesday October 3, 2006 at 457 Bathurst St. Time at 7pm. (Note this meeting was deferred until November)

Quote of the Month:

Does not thy spirit thirst for freedom? -- Alas, not my spirit alone, my body too thirsts for it hourly!

--Max Stirner (1806-1856)