QSA General Meeting Minutes
10/21/2012
Board Attendance
Board Present: Ben, Ivel, Philip, Roland, Trevor, Josh, Neimy, Ariel, Ken, Edith, Sarina
Board Absent: None!
Check-ins: High points, low points, preferred gender pronouns!
Ground rules: Be respectful. Assume best intentions. No laptops except co-chairs and secretary. Sign-in sheet: putting your name down adds you to the QSA-members email list. No one will see your name except co-chairs and secretary.
Special welcome to our official liaison(s) from the Office of BGLTQ Student Life!
Week-in-Review
Phone banking (with the Dems) for Marriage Equality in Maine: The event was really cool, and if you have any interest, then please come out this Thursday, 10/25 – we’re doing it again! The purpose of the phone bank is not to convince people, but rather to gauge support for marriage equality. You call people, ask how they are doing, ask them how they are planning to vote, and if they need an absentee ballot, you take their information down.
Campaign against Rape Culture at Harvard: This campaign has been the culmination of conversations that different student leaders have been having, and was spurred by the recent case of a mailroom worker who was sexually harassed. The campaign works through a grassroots model, and the more student groups that are involved in this dialogue, the better. Meetings are every Wednesday, from 8:30 -9:30, in the Women’s Center (basement of Canaday B).
Sexuality and the Republican Party: The even was planned for Thursday but was cancelled this week, and the cancellation was not widely publicized. We’re sorry about this, and we will be looking into whether or not it’s happening this week.
Leather and Latex Party: A pretty resounding success (with a few hiccups). Huge thanks to the social co-chairs (Josh and Neimy) who put up a sign at the door that gave their phone numbers, and encouraged people to call if they felt uncomfortable. Feedback on this was overwhelmingly positive, and we will do this at future parties. Ten-man occupants considered this party the most successful co-sponsorship ever. We could have used better communication on whether or not latex was actually going to be at the party, due to the potential for attendees with severe latex allergies to have an anaphylactic reaction.
*Reiteration of alcohol policy: The QSA will never use university grant funding to fund alcohol purchase. If we have alcohol at an event, it will be using the board’s own funds, and the board will vote on it.
Upcoming Events
Hillel Party: Harvard Hillel approached the QSA for co-sponsorship on an upcoming event: they are having a formal on November 2nd at the Sheraton Commander. This is the first time they are doing this, and they want it to be BIG. There will be giveaways, party bags. Look into whether other groups are co-sponsoring.
Harvard-Yale: The Co-op wants to host a daytime barbeque before the actual game. That night, the QSA will be throwing Diva, Part 3. We need a sizable space, so contact Josh if you want to offer up your generously appointed room!
Sex Week Shameless Pub: The official sex week kickoff is tonight in Fong Auditorium, Boylston Hall, at 7:30 PM. There will be a spoken word performance about self-love, body, gender, and sexuality. Tons of events will be occurring all week, and Sex Week closes with a kink-themed party on Saturday at the Co-op. Sex toys and condoms give-away throughout the week!
QSA Elections: We invite everyone who will be here next semester to apply! Nominate yourself or someone else, submit a short statement about why you are running, and everyone gets together and votes! We’ll be sending out updates and official election rules soon, so keep an eye out for them.
Queer Town Hall: Everyone gets together one weekend in November, and talks about Queer Life at Harvard! Open to the entire college, widely publicized, etc.
Responsible Investment Coalition at Harvard is trying to get a referendum put on the UC election ballot that will ask the student body whether they support creating a social choice fund in the endowment. 670 individual signatures of Harvard undergrads are required for the referendum. The creation of a social choice fund will allow donors to Harvard to choose whether their money will be invested in a socially responsible way.
