Update

A few bits of news and admin items

Affiliation

Re: Define is finally affiliated with the UCSA!

This means that next year we’ll have a mail slot and pin board and be able to book rooms in the UCSA building, a listing on the UCSA website and in the 2006 UCSA Student Diary, and eventually be eligible for funding.

Mailing list

Just in case you didn’t get the email, we now have a new mailing list. The major advantage of this list is that everyone has the ability to send a message to the whole group. You can do this by sending the email intended for everyone to redefine@googlegroups.com or heading to http://groups.google.co.nz/group/redefine
The message is checked by one several people and is then sent out. The moderator step is there to prevent spam and abuse but will mean that there's a delay on the email being sent out.

If emails from this address are quarantined or labelled as spam, go to
http://spam.canterbury.ac.nz/pmas/index.html, login using your student
email address and password, go down to "Create, Update or Review your
allow list" and add redefine@googlegroups.com. This will mean the
spam filter will not think that these email are spam and allow them
straight through.

If you’ve accidentally been left off the new list (sorry ;) ), would like to join or would like to be taken off, email Ed.

UniQ fortnightly Movie Screenings

Theses will be carrying on through the holidays. Check the UniQ site for further details.

Re: Define 05

Thanks to everyone who helped get Re: Define off the ground this year. It was an interesting few months and a good learning curve for me personally.

Planning has already begun to make sure that next year is even more stimulating, exciting and thought provoking. We may also be working closely with the GEND department in at least one venture.

After everyone’s had a chance to finish their assessment and kick back we’ll be having Breakup drinks. This is planned for mid-November. More details closer to the date.

Good luck to everyone with assessment and hopefully we'll see you in November!

Last Meeting of the Year

This Friday's meeting will be the last of 2005, as next week's would clash with the stein.

This week we'll be enduring the final part of the BBC documentary "Matching the sexes". This episode: Love. From the ads it looks like it may actually be worse than the previous two.

Although these programs are unscientific and uncritical, they've provided excellent examples of how many people (including parts of the scientific community) understand gender.

If you'd like to watch it beforehand or cant make it to the meeting, the program screens on Thursday 8:30 on TV3.

On another note, do you want to get together for breakup drinks at some point in the next few weeks? Last time was a blast, so let me know if you're keen. It would be cool to try and get people together in a non-uni setting.

This week's Meeting

This week we'll be watching the first part (of three) of a documentary called "Secrets of the sexes". It'll be screening on tv3 at 8:30 Thursday night. I'm a little dubious as to how progressive it will be, but it will at the very least provide some interesting discussion. If this week goes well we'll watch the other two episodes in the coming weeks.

I guess you can either watch it the night before and give yourself a chance to think things over before the meeting or not watch it and come ready for a surprise :)

I'll be taping it, but if someone is able to tape it as well I'd appreciate it. VHS isn't the most reliable of media.

Queer Alliance Site Update

Head over to the Queer Alliance site as it has just been thoroughly updated. Of special notice is the "What is the Queer Alliance?" post.
The launch event for this organisation is coming up on Wednesday the 28th of September, 12:30 - 1:30. Details on the QA site.
It's going to be a really fun event. We are a member of QA, so I hope you are able to make it down to lend some support.

UniQ Movie Screenings Every Second Wednesday Night

UniQ holds a movie screening on campus every second Wednesday night.

If you wish to go along, meet in the foyer of the UCSA building at the bottom of the stairwell just before 7:30. Note: The venue for this event changes, so check in here or at the UniQ site for updates.

The next screening is this Wednesday (21/09/05).

Bio - UniQ is a social and support group for gay, straight, bisexual, and transgendered students. They provide a safe place to meet and hang out with queer people, and talk about queer stuff. They are welcoming of non-Queers, and have a fun, laid-back atmosphere.

No Meeting This Friday

Instead there'll be drinks at Iconic (the old Cue time - corner of Manchester and Gloucester Street) from 5, followed by Pizza at Winnie Bagoes.
Iconic has cheap 2 for 1 drinks from 5-7, so it should be a reasonably inexpensive evening.

Normal meeting time/location will resume next week.

Ask Tiina

For those of you that don’t know, Tiina Vares is the Gender Studies Department Co-ordinator. She also teaches courses at 100 and 300 level. You can find out more about her here.
She has been very supportive of our club, is approachable and very interested in her subject. If you have a question for her, would like some guidance regarding course selection, or are interested to learn more about what the Gender Studies department does, I'm sure she would be happy to be of service. tiina.vares@canterbury.ac.nz

Political forum on issues relevant to the rainbow community

This was forwarded to me by a friend.

"Forum - political party views on human rights & social justice for the rainbow community of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender & fa'afafine people.
Particular reference will be paid to party policy and views on the Prostitution Reform Act, the Civil Union Act, Georgina Beyer's Gender Identity Bill and health funding for hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgery for transgender people.

Knox Church Centre
28 Bealey Avenue Christchurch
7.30 pm Wednesday 31st August 2005

Each party will have six minutes to present their policies. Questions and discussion will follow after all have made their presentations. The order of presentations will be determined randomly. The media are being invited and wide publicity is being given to the forum. Knox Centre will be open from 7 pm onwards. There will be displays by the political parties in the lounge. Nibbles, coffee and tea will be provided.
The Forum will start promptly at 7.30 pm and be followed by supper at 9 pm".

The Knox church is queer friendly and holds regular discussions on liberal theology. It will be a good environment and a safe space to voice your opinion or ask questions of MPs regarding queer issues. Be aware though that the media have been invited. I intend to go, email me if you are interested.

Thanks go to Anna Hunter.