Month: August 2007

“They make plans, we make History”

33rd G8 Summit held in Rostock, Germany“Ya basta! It’s enough! Another world is possible!”

As I scan the innumerable websites organizing the anti-G8 mobilization, the familiar alterglobalization rallying cries remind me that I am on friendly ground. Yet the somewhat sketchy information about the camps, transportation and events is not easy to fi nd online even when one knows how to follow the white rabbit. Will there be enough space? Rides to the events? Showers and Internet access at the camp? No one really know but there’ll be (vegan, fairtrade) food and water, so there is no need to worry. Continue reading “They make plans, we make History”

Antioch Students Attend SDS Revival Convention

SDS1This Summer, Detroit, Michigan hosted the second national convention of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) since 1969. Between July 27-31 at Wayne State University, nearly 600 students from around the country converged for four days of workshops on direct action tactics, communicating effectively, high school organizing, and media and facilitation trainings around the infamous student organization of the 60’s. Continue reading Antioch Students Attend SDS Revival Convention

Lust with Levi – “Doin’ It” without “Doin’ It”

Levi B. CowperthwaiteWhat activity comes to mind when you hear the word “sex”? For most people, I would venture to guess, thoughts turn to some form of traditional penile-vaginal intercourse, or at least a healthy dose of very intimate and probably unclothed touching, when primed with the “s” word. Is that all there is to sex, though? Of course not, and for some people, that sort of sex isn’t practical or desirable.

Why not? Well, let’s consider some possibilities: perhaps you don’t have a great deal of sexual experience (or any at all), and you don’t feel ready to make your body that vulnerable to another person (or people), or maybe you have other reasons for not wanting to be physically intimate with another person (or people); perhaps you or a partner have an STI and don’t feel confi dent using barriers for protection; maybe you and your partner(s) fi nd you’re having the same perfunctory sex a couple of times a week and you want to try something new; maybe you and your lover(s) are separated by co-op and want to find sexual fulfilment across the miles. Whatever the reason, doin’ it without doin’ it can be sexy, satisfying, and fun. Here are some suggestions for you to try at home or wherever you do it:

  • Write and exchange erotic stories with your partner(s). Describe your own sexual fantasy or elaborate on a partner’s sexual fantasy. Exchange stories in person or leave it in a surprise location, like in their pajama pocket or under their pillow. Be careful with anything written, however, as you don’t want it to end up in the wrong hands. It’s best not to leave erotic stories or suggestive notes in a lover’s pants or jacket pocket if they’re heading off to work, for example.
  • Make an X-rated video or photo album (using your digital camera and personal printer, of course) for your lover starring YOU! Again, be careful that these things don’t end up in the wrong hands, especially in the event of a less-than-friendly parting. When in doubt, follow a view-once-and-destroy rule
  • Have phone sex. For me, hearing a partner’s voice (their noises, words, etc.) is one of the best parts of sex, so any event highlighting the vocal really turns me on.
  • Have cyber sex. You use the computer for work, school, games, shopping, a date book, and to keep in touch with friends and family, why not use it to enhance your sex life, as well?
  • Two words: mutual masturbation. Pleasure yourself in the presence of your partner(s) while they do the same. You can watch and listen and you know it will feel good because you are your own best lover. Be careful to keep a safe distance during this one in order to prevent the accidental exchange of fl uids.
  • Masturbate with an article of your lover’s clothing (with their consent, of course). Use a dirty shirt infused with your lover’s scent or a clean pair of underwear that you can imagine being close to their “goodies.” This is a fun experiment in texture, too. -Dance. Go to a party or a club and grind up on your partner(s) in the middle of the dance fl oor. This is especially fun if you have some voyeuristic tendencies.
  • Find the quirky things that turn you on. For me, geeking out on social theory with an academic cutie is almost better than sex (almost). What does it for you? Reading abstinence-only curriculum, perhaps?
  • Be creative. The list that I’ve provided is far from exhaustive. Use your own ideas and creativity. A good friend of mine, for example, likes to dress people up as robots and tell them what to do. You might laugh, but it’s what works for her.

I’m sure that all of you have some inventive ideas for doin’ it without doin’ it. Don’t be afraid to try something new, and if you come up with something good, be sure to let me know!

Lusting for You,

Levi B.

P.S. If you hadn’t guessed by now, I’m Levi B., your friendly community sexadvice columnist. You can submit your sex questions to me via email (ecowpert AT antioch-college.edu or Levi Cowperthwaite on First Class) or an anonymous note slipped under the Record office door or placed in the Declassifieds box during Community Meeting, Tuesdays at 3:00 in McGregor 113. I don’t believe that any sex or sexuality-related question is silly or strange, so ask away, Antioch! I’m looking forward to it!

Orientation team welcomes new students to Antioch

8 AM in Main Building’s front hall. Students, faculty and staff all wearing –more or less customized—black Antioch t-shirts are running around carrying giant ice cube packs, last-minute fl yers, and signs bearing the words: Orientation This Way. Anticipation is palpable; the number of students who decided to enrol at Antioch “despite it all” is a source of amazement to many. “They are welcomed with open arms, we want to make them feel we are unifi ed as a student body”, commented Shea Witzberger, 2nd Year Student part of the Orientation Team. Few had predicted such a large turnout, and 20 supplemental welcome packages had to be prepared at the last minute. In fact, said Angie Glukhov, Director of Admissions, the numbers had changed every day up to the very last hours; “We got a student who called us yesterday telling us they were coming today”.

This unexpectedly large incoming first year class—75 according to the most recent count–could hardly have been expected when the news of Antioch’s suspension of operations came out in June. “We tried to contact students immediately, but it was a diffi cult process”, recalled Glukhov. Dealing with bewildered, shocked or angry prospective students, parents, and high school guidance counsellors is a task that the Admissions/Offi ce of Transition staff has had to face heads on this summer, being the primary contact for all complaints and inquiries.

Regardless, the Orientation committee eventually resumed the task it had started in December. “We had been ahead of schedule, but when the announcement broke out we stopped in our tracks for a while”, commented Eli Nettles, Chair of the Orientation Committee. A few accommodations had to be made to adapt to the situation. Orientation was moved from the South Gym to Main Building in order to make it more comfortable to a shrunken number of incoming students. For the most part, however, the pre-unravelling plans—such as the goodies bags– were kept in place.

Last year’s Orientation was soon rebaptized “Disorientation” in reference to the overwhelming amount of information that was poured on the incoming first years at the time. Yet this year, the planning seemed to be lighter. “It was very important to me for students to have free time to breathe in between the Orientation activities”, emphasized Nettles. Moreover, several traditional parts of the orientation schedule, such as the math and writing evaluations or the introduction to co-op communities, have been cancelled due to the current situation of the college.

Community Government’s involvement in Orientation has been greater than in previous years. “We originally decided to take on more work because we thought we would have more time in the summer with no students on campus”, explained Community Manager Chelsea Martens, “of course with the June announcement it didn’t turn out to be that way”. Nonetheless, CG remained an integral part of the Orientation Committee; prompted by Counselling Center Director Linda Sattem, they organized the distribution of Antioch canvas bags containing notably the new and updated Survival Guide. “We aimed to provide new students with an introduction to Antioch on a more personal level”, stressed Martens, “We also wanted to make sure we bridged the infamous gap between first years and upperclassmen”.

Although the decisive involvement of first year students at the morning session of the Cincinnati Board of Trustees meeting of the 25th was a cause of admiration to the rest of the Antioch Community, it was not encouraged by the Orientation Committee. Rory Adams-Cheatham, Community Events Managers recalls that proposals to include a trip to the Cincinnati meeting and a potluck with alumni to the orientation schedule were rejected by the committee. “There was concern that incoming students would feel pressured to get involved in the efforts to save Antioch” explained Adams-Cheatham. The fact that despite having a full-packed activity scheduled on Saturday, as many first years spontaneously chose to wake up at dawn to tell the BOT how they felt about Antioch is testimonial to the success of the Orientation team in introducing the students to their new college.

First Impressions

Between mandatory meetings, the Sexual Offense Prevention Policy, the Racial Discrimination Prevention Policy, partying, registration, going to class, and trying to keep the school open, the fi rst week at Antioch College has been a baptism by fire for the first years. Students arrived for orientation and move-in on Thursday, the 23rd. They were given an eleven item check list, and went from station to station getting room keys, filling out paper work, and being handed bags of free stuff. Carmen Atlee-Loudon described her first impression of Antioch College as “slightly disorganized but really welcoming.” When Gina Potestio, arrived at Antioch her first thought was “this is going to be interesting”. Eric Kobernik’s first impression of the college was “hardcore.”

After the first day came the mandatory meetings scheduled back-to-back, sending students from one building to another. Friday was the most tightly scheduled, with both the SOPP and RDPP meetings being held that morning. First years were anything but overwhelmed with the myriad activities planned for them. “I was stoked to do everything; that’s why I came here,” said Kobernik.

That evening a community gathering was held to prepare for the Board of Trustees meeting, and at six o’clock in the morning the next day students, alumni, and villagers gathered outside of Antioch Hall to join the caravan to Cincinatti. Among the students who woke up early that Saturday morning, there were more then a few first years, a number of which also had the opportunity to address the board at the morning meeting.

“It was one of the most amazing demonstrations of solidarity among a group of individuals that I had ever seen,” said Jay Casale, one of the first years who spoke to the board on Saturday, “It struck a really deep chord in me.”

The effort to keep Antioch open was very visible to all the fi rst years.Some even felt a little lost in the hustle and bustle surrounding the issue. “It was kind of overwhelming, in the way that you want to get involved but you’re not really sure what to do,” said Atlee-Loudon.

While stopping the college in which you just enrolled from closing is not the normal freshman concern, fitting in is, although first-years at Antioch seemed to be taking that in stride. First years were being shuffl ed around together, and had plenty of time to socialize, something they found easy, because, as Atlee-Loudon put it, “everyone is so welcoming and friendly that it easy to start conversations.” Even socializing with the upperclassmen (usually represented as big and scary in cliché) came easily to the members of the entering class. “[at Antioch] they want to be your friend, in other schools upperclassmen shit on the freshmen, [but] here it is much more social,” said Kobernik.

Maybe the biggest challenge posed to the class of 2011 is answering the question “Why did you come to a school that you were told would be closing in a year?” This year’s entering class is here to make the most of this year and do everything that is quintessentially Antioch. Students want to get in their last walks in the Glen, engage with the SOPP and RDPP, attend Board meetings, and take advantage of their classes. The climate of solidarity on campus and the exceptional community mobilization since the June announcement might also have weighed in the balance. As Eric Kobernik put it some students are here because of the closing, and they might not have had a shot at such an exhilarating orientation anywhere else.