Anarchist Free University

Meeting Minutes

8 November 2006

Present: John, Chris, Todd, Ryan, Possum (facilitator), Jeff, Jason, Will, Rob (minutes), Darren, Chris S., David with infant in arms.

AGENDA

• introductions
• course proposals
• message board tabled
• promotion
• ad hoc list tabled
• accessibility issues tabled
• meeting times tabled
• TAR (Anarchist conference in Toronto) tabled
• party tabled
• U of T group status

Introductions

We introduced ourselves to each other around the circle.

Promotion

Chris talked about his interest in creating Situationist inspired posters with radical quotes culled from various sources. He handed around a sheet that indicated the quotes that he is interested in using. A short discussion about possible attribution of the quotes ensued. Chris invites folks to help out with wheatpasting when the posters are available.

Jeff Rybak has written a book about alternative to the mainstream university and has included information about the AFU in it. He is seeking our approval of how the AFU is portrayed in the book which comes out in April 2007. He will email the anarchistu releveant excerpts for review.

U of T Group (anarchist university on campus)

David Evans proposed the formation of a U of T anarchist university student group. He circulated a working document that would be the student's group consitution. The benefits of a parallel U of T anarchist U group would be access to space and resources. Rob raised the issue that a parallel group registered as a student group may drain energy from the anarchist U that is autonomous from regulatory structures connected to mainstream universities. This may be the source of unanticipated problems in the future. There was no consensus reached on this issue and David suggested that anyone interested in the effort can contact him.

Course Proposals

Chris proposed a course entitled, "A Radical Perspective on TV Documentaries and Investigative Reports." The basic idea is to provide a forum for discussion about TV documentaries as a way to engage people on current issues. A wide range of issues to be screened including HIV/AIDS, global dimming, ruby ridge, and Waco. There was some concern that the documentaries lean too heavily on the side of conspiracy theories. Several people (Rob, Chris S. and Todd) expressed concern that the AFU's critical oppositional stance is thwarted by relying on conspiracy theory. Suggestions were offered to reframe the course to highlight this concern and to include a wider range of material that can be critical of conspiracy perspectives. A suggestion to change the course title to reflect this was offered. Provisionally accepted with changes.

Ryan is proposing a discussion course that will screen films relating to desire and violence, entitled, "Screening Desire." The filmmakers choosen are amenable to discussions around desire, passion, identity/difference, violence, relationship to the Other and to the body. The films to be screened are by Peter Greenaway and Takashi Miike. The course has not been fully fleshed out, and Ryan will come back, with his co-facilitator Ashar, and propose the class at the next meeting.

Jason D. is proposing a course entitled, "Radical perspectives on Masculinity." The course is thematic and approaches the topic of gender and sexuality for male identified individuals including transmen to explore aspects of gender practices and its intersection with race, class, sexuality, in the context of political organizing. The course was accepted, but the group suggested that Jason provide a more descriptive summary of the course including framing each week's readings with thematic questions.

Party

Chris S. talked about having a party in December. More details to come as we ran out of time.

Next Meeting:

Sunday, December 3, 2006, 3-5 pm at the 519 Church Street Community Centre.

quote of the month:

I have learned to have very modest goals for myself and society: things like clean air, green grass, children with bright eyes, not being pushed around, useful work that suits one's abilities, plain tasty food, and occasional satisfying nookie.

--Paul Goodman (1911-1972)