QSA Special Election and Transition Meeting Minutes
4/28/2013
Board Attendance
Board Present: Roland, Ivel, Sarina, Brian, Brianna, Ken, Ariel, Neimy, Powell, Lindsey, Kirin, Mason, Manny, Kāpena
Board Absent: None
Check-ins and Housekeeping
Check-ins: Preferred gender pronouns; high points, low points.
Ground rules: New rules on absences: you must notify the co-chairs by the Thursday before the meeting if you plan to be absent. Confidentiality: everything said in this room (including housing preferences), stays in this room. Assume best intentions: sometimes we will come to disagreements, and we should keep in mind that we are all here in each other’s best interests. No laptops except co-chairs and secretary.
Week In Review
Queer Prom: Happened on Friday, April 26th at the Quincy dhall from 10PM-1AM. Over 200 people came; the most we had at any one time was 94, and the average amount of people in the room at any given time was around 55! Photographer was great, but not everyone realized he was there! The Queer Prom photos will be shared with the board by Dropbox and then disseminated to the attendees. For next time: perhaps choose a smaller room.
Drag Night: Happened on Saturday, April 27 from 8-10 PM at the Queen’s Head Pub. Jessica Wild was fantastic, absolutely loved it, and wanted to come back next year. For next time: move the rug in advance, since people were tripping on it. Request that performers handle the microphones carefully to avoid damage. Make sure that next year there is stadium seating, as that worked much better this year than last year.
Gendering and Queering the Dream Act: Happened on April 16th at CGIS S-030 at 6-8 PM. Two professors and two students talked about gender and the DREAM act, and the queer history of naturalization and the DREAM Act. Was a very exciting event, powerful intersection of academia and academic theory and activism and personal stories. Would have been great to see a larger QSA presence.
Events Coming Up
Institutionalization of PGPs: Powell spoke with Brooks, a proctor in Mower Hall who is in charge of the PAF program, to see if PGPs can be incorporated into PAF training. Powell will next be speaking to Van at the Quoffice. The administration is trying to make Community Conversations and Sex Signals more queer-friendly, and our goal it to work with the administration to make that happen.
Co-sponsorship of Sayantan’s play: Co-sponsorship would entail helping out with load-in and strike, reaching out to other groups on campus, working with the producer to help. *Vote on co-sponsorship taken; vote passes unanimously.*
End-of-year BGLTQ Dinner: Happening tomorrow starting at 5:30 PM in Cabot. Email Ariel if you want to go but didn’t RSVP!
Summer Break: Going forward for next year, every committee is tasked with holding at least two study breaks. During the summer, each committee needs to brainstorm events they want to hold. Keep an eye out for a summer email that Neimy and Ivel are going to send.
Summer Board Retreat: Looking into renting a townhouse and not having it on campus. Two or three-day retreat where each committee plans at least two new events for the semester, down to the selection of dates, creation of pub emails and grant-writing. (These two new events are in addition to the study breaks and any events like Hotspot or Drag Night that are held annually). Block out August 30th-September 1st and September 6th-8th on your calendars for the retreat.
Special Elections
New Constitutional Amendment: The Board voted unanimously last week to amend the Constitution to allow certain candidates to run in absentia if they have compelling reasons, as determined by a simple-majority vote of the Board.
Open positions: Treasurer and Secretary
Elected: Grant Jones for Treasurer and James Holloway for Secretary! Congratulations to you both 
QSA Election Meeting Minutes
4/21/2013
Board Attendance
Board Present: Roland, Ivel, Sarina, Brian, Brianna, Ken, Ariel, Neimy, Powell, Lindsey, Kirin
Board Absent: None
Check-ins and Housekeeping
Check-ins: Preferred gender pronouns; high points, low points over the break.
Ground rules: Confidentiality: everything said in this room (including housing preferences), stays in this room. Assume best intentions: sometimes we will come to disagreements, and we should keep in mind that we are all here in each other’s best interests. No laptops except co-chairs and secretary.
Week In Review
Gendering and Queering the DREAM Act: Happened on April 16th at CGIS S-030 at 6-8 PM. Two professors and two students talked about gender and the DREAM act, and the queer history of naturalization and the DREAM Act. Kirin attended; most of the board was not able to make it.
Events Coming Up
Queer Prom: Postponed due to the tragic events of Friday. Dorothy and Diana cannot make any of our alternate dates, so we need to look for new Prom Queens or Kings. We’ve reached out to Professor Tim McCarthy and his partner; also need to reach out to Dean Hammonds. The new date will be April 26th at the Quincy dhall from 10PM-2AM. RSVP online with your @college address. HUID +1 admittance. Sound system will be native Quincy dhall speakers. Decorate from 2-4 PM on the day of; form has been sent out for shifts. Food will soon be ordered – grilled shrimp, cheese and mushroom tartlets, meat rolls, cookies and brownies. We will also get Quincy soda for $100.
Drag Night: April 27 at 8-10 PM at the Queen’s Head Pub. Food is all set courtesy of the Queen’s Head Pub and, we have seven acts which is a great number. Pub this hard this week!
Pre-frosh Meet and Greet: QRC 7:30-9:30 PM tonight (Sunday) for an informal get-together with prefrosh. QRC will provide and cover the cost of food. Between now and then, board members should email all lists with the blurb that Brianna sent out.
DHARMA Same-Sex Wedding: April 21 (today!) at Memorial Church at 4 PM. Our very own Kirin will be getting married to Sasanka. There will be an introduction by Lowell House Master Diana Eck, followed by a beautiful wedding ceremony, as well as samosas and other delicious food.
Elections
Open positions: Treasurer, Secretary, Political Co-Chair, Co-Chair, Gender Diversity, Social Co-Chair.
Elected: Mason Marek for Political Co-Chair, Neimy Escobar for Co-Chair, Kāpena Baptista for Gender Diversity Chair, and Manny Mendoza for Social Co-Chair! Congratulations to everyone
Next weekend: Transition meeting and run-off elections for Treasurer and Secretary will be on April 28th.
QSA General Meeting Minutes
4/14/2013
Board Attendance
Board Present: Roland, Ivel, Sarina, Brian, Brianna, Ken, Kirin, Ariel, Neimy, Powell
Board Absent: Lindsey
Check-ins and Housekeeping
Check-ins: Preferred gender pronouns; high points, low points over the break.
Ground rules: Confidentiality: everything said in this room (including housing preferences), stays in this room. Assume best intentions: sometimes we will come to disagreements, and we should keep in mind that we are all here in each other’s best interests. No laptops except co-chairs and secretary.
Week In Review
Meeting with Dean Dingman on PGPs: Powell and Ivel met with Dean Dingman: how to make Freshman Orientation more LGBTQ friendly. Get an article on PGPs and trans issues into the Community Conversations packet. Going forward: talk to whoever is in charge of training the PAFs, to have the PAFs go around and share PGPs at opening days meetings.
Events Coming Up
Steve Kerrigan: CEO and President of DNC and Presidential Inauguration. Currently a Fellow at the IOP holding a study group. Want to invite him to come for a meeting with the QSA. Powell will take point on this.
Gendering and Queering the DREAM Act: April 16th at CGIS S-030 at 6-8 PM. Two professors and two students talking about gender and the DREAM act, and the queer history of naturalization and the DREAM Act. Postering will be happening tomorrow.
Queer Prom: April 19 at the Quincy dhall from 10PM-2AM. RSVP online with your @college address. HUID +1 admittance. Dorothy and Diana will be Prom Queens. Sound system will be native Quincy dhall speakers. Two social mixers beforehand: Lev F-108 (8:30-9:30), Adams J-202 (8:30-9:30). Food has already been ordered – grilled shrimp, cheese and mushroom tartlets, meat rolls, cookies and brownies. Get Quincy soda for $100.
Visitas Activities Fair: April 21 at the SOCH from 4-6 PM. Brian, Roland, Lindsey, William, Ivel, Ariel, Neimy, Sarina will be there. Materials will come from the Quoffice, stickers from Women’s Center, etc.
Visitas Open House: Later on that night, there will be an Open House in the BGLTQ Office (Quoffice). Last year we had an open mic, and will again this year – Brianna has taken charge of organizing this, and has reached out to GLOW, BAGELS, TTF, the QRC, and Contact. She has gotten at 5 speakers from a diversity of backgrounds and narratives, and will be MC’ing.
Drag Night: April 27 at 8-10 PM at the Queen’s Head Pub. Will be doing another email blast to get more performers to sign up. Can perform more than once!
Diva(?): Diva is happening on April 26th, co-sponsor with GLOW. QSA is providing funds for refreshments, $4 per board member, apply for a DAPA grant. Still looking for a room, backup is Currier Treehouse. Need to rename, send name ideas to Neimy.
Elections
Open positions: Treasurer, Secretary, Political Co-Chair, Co-Chair, Gender Diversity, Social Co-Chair.
Transition Meeting and Run-off Elections are on April 28th.
Elections are on Sunday, April 21.
Election Statements go out Wednesday, April 17
Election Statements are due Tuesday, April 16.
Election Statements submissions opens April 12.
Nomination period ends April 11.
Nomination period opens Sunday, April 7.
QSA General Meeting Minutes
4/7/2013
Board Attendance
Board Present: Roland, Ivel, Sarina, Brian, Brianna, Ken, Kirin, Lindsey, Ariel, Neimy
Board Absent: Powell (sick)
Check-ins and Housekeeping
Check-ins: Preferred gender pronouns; high points, low points over the break.
Ground rules: Confidentiality: everything said in this room (including housing preferences), stays in this room. Assume best intentions: sometimes we will come to disagreements, and we should keep in mind that we are all here in each other’s best interests. No laptops except co-chairs and secretary.
Week In Review
Aging Event at School of Public Health: Great attendance, huge lecture hall was full, they ran out food. The documentary was eye-opening and set around Boston, so it hit close to home. Examined aging in trans communities, with partners/without partners, etc. We should do a screening of this for a study break. Great resource/inspiration for community service ideas.
Meeting with Dean Dingman on PGPs: Powell and Ivel met with Dean Dingman: how to make Freshman Orientation more LGBTQ friendly. Get an article on PGPs and trans issues into the Community Conversations packet. Going forward: talk to whoever is in charge of training the PAFs, to have the PAFs go around and share PGPs at opening days meetings.
IvyQ Leaders’ Weekend: Powell, Brianna, and two other students went. Standardization across the board of how leaders are selected. Harvard will not put in a bid next year to host it. Need to work within and outside the QSA structure to make sure everyone’s voices are heard.
Meeting with Lowell House Admin Beth on GN Housing: Ivel meet with the Lowell House Admin, who really didn’t want to do it, and would only do it when the OSL wanted her to do it.
LGBT Labels Video Project: Medha Gargeya is putting this on, email her if you want to get involved.
Events Coming Up
Divest Harvard: Asking Harvard to sell its stock in the 200 fossil fuel companies that own the biggest reserves. If these companies burn even 20% of their reserves, the global average temperature will almost certainly rise by 2 degrees Celsius. Social justice issue, these companies have poor record on human rights and treatment of queer employees, and they are actively blocking debate on climate change. Two ways the QSA can help: (1) this Friday, join the rally at Mass Hall at 4 PM and/or (2) sign the petition with 1100 signatures that will be delivered to the HMC and President Faust. *Vote is taken on QSA endorsement of Divest Harvard. Vote does not pass, but individuals can still endorse.*
Steve Kerrigan: CEO and President of DNC and Presidential Inauguration. Currently a Fellow at the IOP holding a study group. Want to invite him to come for a meeting with the QSA.
Take Back the Night: Kickoff is April 7 from 5-7PM in Ticknor Lounge. Food, spoken word performances, and fun people.
Gendering and Queering the DREAM Act: April 16th at CGIS S-030 at 6-8 PM. Two professors and two students talking about gender and the DREAM act, and the queer history of naturalization and the DREAM Act.
Queer Prom: April 19 at the SOCH from 10PM-2AM. RSVP online with your @college address. Need new pub to include prefrosh – pub to Class of 2017 with Facebook event. Also Roland and Sarina will print out posters.
DHARMA Same-Sex Wedding: April 20 at TBD at 3 PM. On hold until we get more info from DHARMA.
Visitas Activities Fair: April 21 at the SOCH from 4-6 PM. Later on that night, Open House in the BGLTQ Office (Quoffice). Last year we had an open mic – Brianna will take charge of organizing this, MC’ing, reaching out to GLOW, BAGELS, TTF, the QRC, Contact and getting at least 5 speakers from a diversity of backgrounds and narratives.
Drag Night: April 27 at 8-10 PM at the Queen’s Head Pub. Will be doing another email blast to get more performers to sign up. Can perform more than once!
Diva: Diva is happening on April 26th, co-sponsor with GLOW. GLOW is providing the room in Lev, QSA is providing funds for refreshments, $4 per board member, apply for a DAPA grant.
Elections
Open positions: Treasurer, Secretary, Political Co-Chair, Co-Chair, Gender Diversity, Social Co-Chair.
Transition Meeting and Run-off Elections are on April 28th.
Elections are on Sunday, April 21.
Election Statements go out Wednesday, April 17
Election Statements are due Tuesday, April 16.
Election Statements submissions opens April 12.
Nomination period ends April 11.
Nomination period opens Sunday, April 7.
QSA General Meeting Minutes
3/10/2013
Board Attendance
Board Present: Roland, Ivel, Sarina, Brian, Brianna, Powell, Ken, Kirin
Board Absent: Lindsey
Check-ins and Housekeeping
Check-ins: Preferred gender pronouns; high points, low points over the break.
Ground rules: Confidentiality: everything said in this room (including housing preferences), stays in this room. Assume best intentions: sometimes we will come to disagreements, and we should keep in mind that we are all here in each other’s best interests. No laptops except co-chairs and secretary.
Week-in-review
Richard Blanco: Winthrop hosted him as part of their speaker series last Wednesday at 8 PM. Meet and greet was at the Advocate from 6:30-7:30 PM. Feedback: Amazing, “best event I’ve been to all year,” emotional. Blanco stayed an hour after he was supposed to just to meet people and sign autographs. We also sold a lot of books. Hiccups: QSA did not take pictures with him (but the Crimson will give us some of theirs to give to the Foundation), Winthrop House Master was also not able to attend.
GLOW Queer Women of Color Party: GLOW threw a party with the LEAD conference attendees on Saturday March 9th, 10 PM – 2 AM in a student’s room. Great party! Good amount of people from other schools. Everyone seemed to feel comfortable and safe; good music, good space. Next time, have signs up with contact information in case of emergency (like we do at other parties).
Events Coming Up
Queering the Dream Act: How does the Dream Act address people of all genders and sexualities in relation to their citizenship? Speakers will include Harvard and MIT professors, and an undocumented student on the panel. It will be a satellite event on April 16th at CGIS for the Border Crossing: Gender and Immigration Conference happening at Radcliffe on April 25-26th. Kirin is applying for grant support from the Harvard Foundation. QSA will be co-sponsoring.
Visitas: We have always had a presence in the Activities Fair in the SOCH. We’ve also held separate during past Visitas weeks as well. Want to welcome Prefrosh who are queer, questioning or allies. Feedback from last year’s event: the coming out stories that we’re shared all had positive outcomes, which is not true for everyone. Point persons for Visitas will be Ariel and Brianna. We’ll start concrete planning for this when we get back from Spring Break.
Community Conversations: Ivel and Powell met with the author of the Crimson column about PGPs. There is a need for more conversations about queer and transgender issues during opening week. Powell is going to try to speak to the FDO in the coming weeks. Ivel: Target the FDO and PAFs/Freshman Advising and see what we can do to institutionalize PGPs. “There’s not a lot about orientation during orientation.” Learning opportunities, not shaming opportunities.
QSA General Meeting Minutes
3/3/2013
Board Attendance
Board Present: Roland, Sarina, Ivel, Brian, Brianna, Powell, Ken
Board Absent: Kirin, Lindsey
Check-ins and Housekeeping
Check-ins: Preferred gender pronouns; high points, low points over the break.
Ground rules: Confidentiality: everything said in this room, stays in this room. Assume best intentions: sometimes we will come to disagreements, and we should keep in mind that we are all here in each other’s best interests. No laptops except co-chairs and secretary.
Week-in-review
Blood Donation Equality Campaign Kickoff: There was cake and a Crimson reporter covering it. Once we have the address, the letters will be sent off this week!
Twerkology: Attendance was lower than expected, but it was good that the QSA showed up with about 15 people. DJ’s music was really good, so Neimy got his card (maybe hire him for Queer Prom?)
Gender Inclusive Housing: Friday afternoon Brianna et al met with Sofia, one of the Director’s of Res Life. Also present were Dr. Van Bailey from the Quoffice, Emelyn de la Pena, and Kim Patchelli. An equal amount of administrators and students were there, the admins seemed very eager to change the policy, and the meeting ended up being a productive strategy session. Going forward: QSA needs to do outreach to individual House masters and encourage them to contact Sofia, join the pilot program and get rid of the lock policy. There are 5 Houses (plus Dudley) that are already in the pilot program and provide unconditional gender inclusive housing, and there are 7 Houses that are not in the pilot program and provide only conditional gender inclusive housing that is much harder to get. OSL has agreed to pay for the locks (which can cost $75-100 each). If we got every single House on board before March 14th, we could have universal gender inclusive housing.
Events Coming Up
Gen Silent: School of Public Health’s QSA wants to do an event on aging and the LGBTQ community, specifically the invisibility of aging in the queer community, and screen the documentary “Gen Silent” and have a panel discussion. We have a couple of people from Fenway and the LGBTQ aging project lined up to speak. Date of the event would be Thursday, April 4th at the School of Public Health. Ken: For publicity, contact undergrads who are interested in Public Health? *Vote taken on co-sponsorship, vote passes unanimously.”
Same-sex Mock Hindu Wedding: Co-hosted with Dharma at the end of April (when it’s nice outside). We’ll get more information on this in the following weeks.
Machine Outing: 18+, Friday March 15th (day before Spring Break).
Richard Blanco: Winthrop will be hosting him as part of their speaker series this Wednesday at 8 PM. Meet and greet at the Advocate from 6:30-7:30. The Advocate design team will deliver a poster to us next week.
Crossroads Conference: Conference on intersectionality of race, class, gender, sexuality, etc. on April 13th being hosted by RUS in Harvard Hall. Our campus doesn’t really have discussions on how these identities and associated oppressions intersect. Should the QSA co-sponsor? We’d need a liaison to commit to weekly meetings on Sundays at 9 PM, publicize, and have QSA members attend the event. Brianna is already the liaison for IWRC; Ariel will be the liaison for the QSA. *Vote taken on co-sponsorship, vote passes unanimously.*
Diva 3.0: Brian: We are still searching for rooms; if all else fails, we’ll hold it in the SOCH.
Queer Prom: Will be held on April 19th (which is also Day of Silence). The UC was very generous and gave us a lot, we are still waiting to hear back from the Foundation, and, unfortunately, we did not get as much funding as we wanted from the WC. Security is $600 a night for the SOCH, and that’s our biggest expense. Neimy: I’ll be applying for an Open Gate grant this week.
Drag Night: We also did not receive a lot of funding from the WC, still waiting to hear back on the Foundation grant, and will also be applying for an Open Gate grant.
Queer Women of Color Party: GLOW is throwing a party with the LEAD conference attendees on Saturday March 9th, 10-2 in a student’s room. They’re hoping for us to cosponsor, attend, pub to our members, and bring refreshments. Definitely the kind of event we want to have a presence at. *Vote taken on co-sponsorship, vote passes unanimously.*
*Since we have SO many events happening in April, we definitely need to do a huge Gaypril Event Pub email to all our members.*
IvyQ: IvyQ needs new leaders for the next IvyQ. Looking for people to come to the next leader’s meeting in NYC.
Door-drops: In the QRC this week we discovered a treasure trove of sleeves for door-dropping queer resource materials. We used to door-drop this stuff to the freshmen each year. Do we want to door-drop this for Gaypril? (And then door drop it in September next year?) Answer: Definitely!
QSA General Meeting Minutes
2/24/2013
Board Attendance
Board Present: Roland, Sarina, Brian, Brianna, Lindsey, Powell, Ken, Kirin
Board Absent: Ivel
Check-ins and Housekeeping
Check-ins: Preferred gender pronouns; high points, low points over the break.
Ground rules: Confidentiality: everything said in this room, stays in this room. Assume best intentions: sometimes we will come to disagreements, and we should keep in mind that we are all here in each other’s best interests. No laptops except co-chairs and secretary.
Week-in-review
Cultural Rhythms: While we only sold around 30 tickets worth of cake, it was a huge success. We will be reimbursed by the full amount, and the founder of Cultural Rhythms actually came over to the table and expressed how happy she was personally to see us there.
Events Coming Up
Gender-neutral Housing: Powell has been emailing up a storm. Meeting Friday with Residential Life on the current state of gender-neutral housing at Harvard.
Richard Blanco: Winthrop will be hosting him as part of their speaker series. We may need to look into a bigger venue. The Advocate design team will deliver a poster to us next week.
Take Back the Night: Trevor: It’s now a month-long series of events, discussions, panels, and movies that promote health relationships and encourage action against relationship violence. This year is will likely be held in April. Keith is serving on the planning committee this year. The QSA could help with Take Back the Night in a variety of ways: as a co-sponsor of the entire series of events, in a consultation capacity, or in a planning capacity for certain events. Weekly meetings would (probably) be Tuesday 5-6 PM. Idea: create a one-time committee or liaison position(s) to serve on the advisory board for Take Back the Night, and represent the QSA. Vote take; vote passes unanimously. Ivel and Roland will draft an email to be sent to the QSA-Members list to solicit statements of interest.
Same-sex Hindu Wedding: Co-hosted with Dharma – we’ll hear more about that in the next few weeks
Aging and the LGTBQ Community: School of Public Health’s QSA wants to do an event on aging and the LGBTQ community, specifically the invisibility of aging. They want funding from the HCWC, but the funding deadline appears to have passed. Even if we can’t deliver on the funding, we can deliver on the collaboration. Someone from their QSA will come in to talk with us about the event.
Crossroads Conference: Conference on intersectionality of race, gender, sexuality, etc. on April 13th being hosted by RUS. Our campus doesn’t really have discussions on how these identities and associated oppressions intersect. Should the QSA co-sponsor? Commit to weekly meetings on Sundays at 9 PM, publicize, and have QSA members attend the event. Once we receive more details, we will vote on co-sponsorship.
Twerkology: Hosted by the Harvard Society of Black Scientists and Engineers this Friday in the SOCH from 10 PM – 2 AM. There will be a cover charge: $5 in advance, $7 at the door. Pub to members that we are going to guerilla queer it!
Machine Outing: 18+, Friday March 8th
QSA General Meeting Minutes
2/17/2013
Board Attendance
Board Present: Roland, Sarina, Ivel, Brian, Kirin, Brianna, Lindsey, Powell, Ken
Board Absent: None
Check-ins and Housekeeping
Check-ins: Preferred gender pronouns; high points, low points over the break.
Ground rules: Confidentiality: everything said in this room, stays in this room. Assume best intentions: sometimes we will come to disagreements, and we should keep in mind that we are all here in each other’s best interests. No laptops except co-chairs and secretary.
Weeks-in-review
Ethical Non-Monogamy with Joy Fairfield: Introduced the academic approach to ethical non-monogamy. Spoke on how unhealthy feelings of jealousy/ownership over other people are damaging to relationship. There was interest from outside the Harvard community as reflected by attendance. For next time: make sure we have more co-sponsors!
IvyQ: Workshops included the history of LGBTQ pride and panels over Skype. There was also an impromptu workshop for queer people of color to voice concerns. The atmosphere was “eye-opening,” “tense,” and “inclusive.” Damien Luxe: Amazing speaker, spoke on: femme identities, finding one’s own identity, intersections, femme identity in queerness and gender, experience as sex worker, empowerment, power dynamics. Question: Bring this to OUR CAMPUS? Could have a discussion about queer people of color on this campus, as well as queer bodies, body issues, self-identity, body and gender expression. Perhaps join together with Brown students?
For next time: get a bus of our own to go to IvyQ.
Grants update
Ken applied for Foundation and HCWC for Richard Blanco and Drag Night, and may need to apply for Open Gate for Drag Night. Neimy applied for Foundation and HCWC grants for Queer Prom. Ariel applied for Foundation and HCWC grants to bring the director of the Two Spirits film to campus for a special screening and discussion. Partnering with the Carr Center, History of American Civilizations Dept., Foundation film series.
Events Coming Up
Richard Blanco poetry reading on March 6th. Co-sponsorship with SOL, CAUSA, Advocate? **Vote taken on Richard Blanco, vote passes unanimously**
Joy Fairfield speaking on non-monogamous relationships as a tool to promote social justice on February 6th. Co-sponsorship with BAGELS, SHEATH?
Drag Night at the Queen’s Head for April 27th. MC Jessica Wild.
Queer Prom – still looking for a room, but no date. Talking with Hillel to see what kind of deal they got with the Sheraton for John Harvard’s Bar Mitzvah.
Alok Vaid-Menon (GLOW)
QSA General Meeting Minutes
2/3/2013
Board Attendance
Board Present: Roland, Sarina, Ivel, Brian, Kirin, Brianna, Lindsey, Powell
Board Absent: Ken
Check-ins and Housekeeping
Check-ins: Preferred gender pronouns; high points, low points over the break.
Ground rules: Confidentiality: everything said in this room, stays in this room. Assume best intentions: sometimes we will come to disagreements, and we should keep in mind that we are all here in each other’s best interests. No laptops except co-chairs and secretary.
Constitutional changes: A QSA Member is now whomever self-declares that they wish to be a member of the QSA and wants to engage with the community. Email lists: QSA-Members is for member announcements and discussion, and is moderated by the QSA Board; LGBTQ-Talk is for lgbtq-related issues and has a much broader audience than QSA-Members, and is not moderated by the QSA. Roland: let’s have a discussion at the next meeting on how we can strengthen the community on these lists, and consider involvement in Facebook groups.
The Year Ahead – Ideas! Intersections! Needs!
Intersectionality of Queer + Asian identities = AAA + GLOW.
More Allies! Ideas: BGLTQ signs, recognition of allied participation at social events, study break for allies
Discussion on marriage: societal/relevance/BGLTQ community
Immigration, sociality + gender; DREAM Act
Gender-inclusive housing/facilities
Bring BGLTQ politicians in as speakers: Richard Tsei & Barney Frank
Queer Formal
Destigmatizing HIV/AIDS – good opportunity to work with other groups on campus like Global Health & AIDS coalition
Virtual space for LGBTQ Boston
Service/advocacy/activism
Events to Come
Richard Blanco poetry reading on March 6th. Co-sponsorship with SOL, CAUSA, Advocate? **Vote taken on Richard Blanco, vote passes unanimously**
Joy Fairfield speaking on non-monogamous relationships as a tool to promote social justice on February 6th. Co-sponsorship with BAGELS, SHEATH?
Drag Night at the Queen’s Head for April 27th. MC Jessica Wild.
Queer Prom – still looking for a room, but no date. Talking with Hillel to see what kind of deal they got with the Sheraton for John Harvard’s Bar Mitzvah.
Alok Vaid-Menon (GLOW)
Grants
Foundation grants are due the 11th, and they are the biggest money. So, a grant-writing workshop will be held next weekend!
QSA General Meeting & Election Minutes
12/2/2012
Board Attendance
Board Present: Roland, Sarina, Ivel, Neimy, Ariel, Ken, Philip, Edith, Brian, Kirin, Brianna, Lindsey
Board Absent: Ben, Trevor, Josh
Check-ins and Housekeeping
Check-ins and preferred gender pronouns (PGPs): High points, low points.
Ground rules: Be respectful. Assume best intentions. No laptops except co-chairs and secretary. Sign-in sheet: required this week for voter attendance.
Special Elections for Treasurer and Co-Chair
Candidates were each allowed 1 minute of speaking time, followed by 3 minutes of Q&A. Following that, ballots were cast, and counted in a separate room by the co-chairs.
Voted in as members of the new board were Kenneth Mai (Treasurer), Powell Eddins (Political Committee Co-Chair). They will be joining the board for the spring semester – congratulations! Many thanks as well to the voters and all the candidates for a well-run and well-fought election.
Week-in-Review
Queer Tour of Boston: Was, in a word, “awesome.” GLOW, Bagels, and the BGLTQ Office co-sponsored, and there was great turnout! Only negatives were that it was cold and dark, and some of the historic places were, sadly, no longer in existence (ie one of them had been converted into a parking garage).
Queer Town Hall: Held in Holden Chapel; about 20 people showed up, and the discussion was “fascinating” and “productive.” It was helpful to hear perspectives specifically from people who are not necessarily in the QSA. Notes from the Town Hall that Neimy took (thank you Neimy!) will be published on the website.
Trans 102: Feedback: “I learned A LOT.” The facilitators did a great job of explaining many of the nuances of being trans*, and shared some of their personal experiences that really helped illuminate the issues at hand. The atmosphere was friendly and very conducive to the asking of questions, and a lot of good questions were asked.
Reflections/Ideas from Outgoing Board Members
Edith: Have committees meet before the main meeting, so there is more to talk about. Community conversations should come back. The QSA needs to evaluate whether we represent the whole queer community at Harvard, or just our members. We need to put more emphasis on queer POC and people who do not fall within the gender binary.
Philip: Encourage people to pursue their passions even if they don’t line up with their positions (or if they don’t have a position at all). Also, all the events I have done are ones where students can share their experiences – and I think those kinds of events are extremely important, and enriching. When you plan an event, clarify the goal beforehand. There is a difference between what an event actually is, and what the effect of the event is. Last thing: continue to engage members, who have incredible input and insight that can be sought more actively. Question the general meeting structure and even the board structure. Break all of the rules!
