I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Emily Mente, Lauren Soldano, and Iveta Jusova about their experiences on the Summer 08 Antioch Education Abroad Women’s Studies Program. Emily is a third year student at Antioch / Nonstop from Pittsburgh. Lauren is a second year Antioch / Nonstop student from Hamilton, Ohio. Iveta Jusova has led the Women’s Studies Abroad Program for the past five years, and currently teaches at Nonstop.

About the program:

Iveta: This program was created by Antioch College Women’s s Studies faculty in 1984. Marianne Welchel and Jean Gregorek are some of the College faculty who have been involved in developing and improving the WGSE program over the years. The structure of the program is wonderfully conducive to combining classroom academics and experiential learning. I love the constant back and forth between theory and practice on the program.

Emily: It is a thirteen week program. You take four classes:
Situated Feminism, Feminist Methodologies, Feminist Theory, and an independent research project. This year, we started in Utrecht in the Netherlands. The program starts out wherever the NOISE Summer School conference is which is a two-week program on European Women’s Studies. From there we went to Krakow, Poland, and from there to Prague, then to Berlin, and back to Utrech for two weeks. Then we flew to Istanbul where we spent ten days, and then back to Utrech. It was quite a trip.

By Alaa Jahshan

I remember talking to some friends and the words, “I hate heterosexuals!” came spewing out of my mouth as I realized I was surrounded by several of them. So what, I thought, I’ve heard people around me my whole life say they hate homosexuality, disgusted by it, wouldn’t even consider discussing it, sin itself. I wanted to say fuck you, and I still do. It makes me feel better, but it doesn’t accomplish anything.
First, I thought, I need to deal with my own problems. I feel hate towards traditional heterosexuals and hetero-normative culture. I am many times resentful of the male culture I grew up in, consequently leaving me with an insecure image of manhood and sexuality. Stereotypical men were obscure to me; they interested me because of how oddly charged they were. For lack of a better description, these were the dude bros, man. It was an identity that I felt I had to habituate because my other options did not make much sense. Hell, I had the privilege of physically being one of them, but still I became resentful because I didn’t thrive in that kind of population.

Dear Levi B.,

Sincerely,
Horny Holiday

Dear Levi B.,

I consider myself to be a queer man, but, for whatever reason, I’ve only ever dated straight women. I just got out of a long-term relationship, so I’m trying to put myself back on the market. Recently, I’ve been communicating with a woman online who I found through a Craigslist personal ad who identifies as queer. From some of the things she’s told me, I’m starting to think that she might be a trans woman. We haven’t met in person, yet, but I feel a little nervous and I’m wondering if I should bring it up with her.
Sincerely,
Crushin’ and Questioning

“Does anyone have a bike helmet?” Ok! I must admit that when James Kutil asked the audience this question the first thought that ran through my head was, I thought they’d be talking about a different type of protection at a production from a group called “Bench Press Burlesque.”

Sadly, James’ plea for a helmet went unanswered. However the show went on.

The politically and religiously irreverent burlesque performance was sexy, bold and hilarious. Not many performances can keep on audience laughing after making informed commentary on Christianity and the Moral Majority, Israeli/U.S. foreign policy, the empowerment of women, and safe sex.

This display of politically charged fabulosity may however not appeal to the more puritanical. Theoretically, having someone who looks like Jesus coming out on stage, having his clothes removed, revealing S/M gear, then being handcuffed to a crucifix and whipped could be interpreted as disrespectful or offensive by some, however I like to think that offending certain people is the responsibility of an act that describes itself as a “radical multi-gendered, sex-positive, feminist feast of political performance art.”

Although it is obviously a low-budget performance, Bench Press is still an amazing experience that engages and simulates the audience, that has the added benefit of being hilarious at times, and even though some of the skits fell a little short, overall the performance was mind-blowing. Besides, who would pass up the chance to see a show that ends with an on stage dance party?