General Meeting Minutes: Sunday July 24th, 2005

eight persons attended the meeting this past sunday. These were: chris, ashar, tim, alan, darien, richard, with marley and chris arriving just after at 5 pm.

minutes were taken by richardm (wasichu AT gmail.com)

chris was the facilitator (christopher@anarchistu.org)

Agenda

the agenda for the meeting covered a number of topics. chris, alan, and ashar proposed to discuss summer updates regarding courses and status of the university. it was thought that a discussion of working groups was necessary, specifically addressing the following topics: promotion of the fall courses and the university in general, organization and promotion of what was suggested as a fall (dis) orientation carnival and picnic, and fall course proposals.

it was suggested as a consensus that it was important to break specific tasks down into working groups to spearhead various issues the university will be facing, both in the short and longer terms. it was thought that some re- invigoration of the unversity was in order after a brief period of summer lag.

Summer updates

ashar reported that there were two classes and a seminar scheduled for the second part of the summer2005. these were postponed until the fall. although it was pointed out that in the first term a total of 5 classes were offered. again, promotion of the university was mentioned as a priority for the coming fall semester.

tim referred to advertising through the library at u of t as well as doing radio spots. tim said he was able to get public service announcements on the radio regarding the fall (dis) orientation carnival and picnic.

chris mentioned that there was an issue ith the co- op that may allow for the problem of class space to be resolved for a number of classes. this was discussed later by alan, who had a familiarity with the co- op structure.

the web page was also mentioned to be an important resource in terms of promoting the university. alan and chris also emphasized the importance of the web in terms of maintaining some course continuity and student interest. keeping students informed and urging them to make their own posts on the class page was deemed an important facet of the web page. several folks also warned of creating too much of a skeletal structure of class on the web page, but keeping it as a supplement to the class. there were some concerns about class attendance over the length of the courses.

it was mentioned that when folks facilitate a course, it is their responsibility to keep the web page updated and show up to general meetings. folks agreed this was critical to maintaining some continuity between courses and the university. of course that does not preclude classes from developing their own agendas that may or may not be part of any general meeting.

Start of fall2005 semester

Fall (dis) orientation carnival and picnic

the fall (dis) orientation carnival and picnic for the Anarchist Free University will be held sunday, september 11th in Trinity- Bellwood Park from approximately 3 pm until around 6 or 7 pm.

it was thought that the start of the fall semester should start the next week, after Sunday the 19th. the semester would extend ten or eleven weeks, until the week of the 28th of November, which falls on a Monday.

the issue of obtaining a permit from the city for the festivities. this would cost some $40 and would require someone to be responsible for everything that may or may not happen on the 11th. it was thought that we could go ahead and promote the hell out of the carnival and not obtain the permit.

darien made the cogent point that to have a successful carnival, within the context of the university, it would be a good practice proceed without a permit. it would just mean being somewhat aware regarding fissioning and fusioning of groups, having people seated, some people eating, as well some engaging in or watching various activities, games, sports, etc.

it was thought that a working group for the (dis) orientation carnival and picnic would meet at some point over the next two weeks. the festivity will be potluck with regards to food as well as drinks, although some water and corporate pop will be provided. promotion again was a big issue to ensure that sept. 11th would be a success. ashar and chris agreed to work on promotion.

various kinds of promotions included:

• t- shirts
• posters
• flyers
• announcement at the u of t library
• radio public service spots
• print media- NOW/ EYE magazines(?)
• dialogue and invite other groups!
• get your friends out there!

an email for the carnival/ picnic will go out asking if folks want to be on the working group. it was decided later that this group would meet on 1august at 2 pm at chris' place. darien emphasized working with other groups to join the fun. perhaps also the carnival would include some kind of short procession out of the park at the end...chris mentioned that perhaps people could make some 'call outs' to all interested parties.

to reiterate, an email would be sent out by chris(?) and (or) rob (?) regarding the working group for the (dis) orientation carnival and picnic.

Class space

the issue of class space was brought up and it was suggested that a working group with regards to space would be formed.

Course proposals

several people had courses to propose for the fall2005. richardm, ashar, and chris proposed classes for the fall2005 semester.

• richard proposed a class in anarchist anthropology- this class is an experimental reading of social anthropology and its overlap with anarchist perspectives and practice. by looking at specific social contexts and historic moments in varying cultures we can begin to understand the range of social relations and creativities at our disposal, and come up with both a critique of some of the hierarchies we all face, as well an understanding of anarchist practice in our own insurrectionary communities.

people had a positive(?) response to the course. it was thought that the reading needed to be streamlined and cut down and visual aspects of the course increased.

• ashar proposed a course on hip hop music and culture- this class would explore the emergence of hip hop as a multi- faceted culture of resistance. the class will explore this history of the genre in terms of its tension- filled relation with the dominant culture as well as its co- option by that very same culture. the class will spend some time dissecting the meanings of youth culture, identity, cultural resistance and ownership, and the process of renegotiating its connection to history.

people had a positive response to the course. it was thought the course needed to be fleshed out more in terms of its direction and the reading needed to be more clearly articulated.

• chris proposed a course entitled 'dundas square and the politics of public space'. this would be a forum for discussion, engagement, and intervention with regard to the cultural politics and social history of dundas square in its role as both a monument to the state's submission to private capital as well as the profound effect of privatization, militarization, sanitization, and commercialization of this important public space.

people had a positive response to the course. it was thought that the readings needed to be streamlined and perhaps broken down into sections for easier access.

• chris also proposed a course in judo. this course was also received positively. the main problem was once of space. this kind of class needs to be indoors with gymnastic or wrestling mats covering the floor. suggestions of a church basement, schools, and community centres were heard. people also agreed that a small payment for each class if necessary was acceptable. it was also mentioned that folks taking the class would have to agree not to blame chris if someone got their necks or other appendages in a twist during the course.

Conclusions

it was reiterated that most courses over the semester have a 50% drop out rate. have to keep promoting the course throughout the semester.

again the topic of class space came up. chris again mentioned that he was working with the campus co- op to perhaps donate a space in perhaps the board room (?) for fall classes.

it was also mentioned that anarchism 101 might be offered in the fall again. ashar mentioned he would like to have the hip hop class on thursdays. richard muttered he would like to have anarchist anthropology on wednesdays.

meeting of working group for the fall (dis) orientation carnival and picnic will be held on august 1st at 2 pm at chris' place. contact chris for details.

coffee and donuts?