April 2014 Archives


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Usually, the CGS is only open on weekdays, but on this day CGS will specially open its doors to visitors. Persons from outside of ICU are also most welcome. The CGS's "Communication Space" has more than 3,000 books in its library--won't you come see it? Tea, coffee, and a cozy place to chat are waiting for you here.

Claire Doran, graduate student and Rotary Peace Fellow at ICU, will be held FEMSEX at ICU in this spring cementer. CGS will cheer for this class!



Join us in exploring female sexuality this spring! Introducing FemSex at ICU

The purpose of FemSex is to create a safe space that encourages and facilitates student learning about their bodies, exploring their boundaries, desires, experiences and expands their understanding of power and privilege. Topics raise consciousness about: anatomy and physiology, the influence of social hierarchies in all reproductive choices, solo sex, partner sex, orgasm, sex work, communication, consent, relationships, gender/sex based violence, and empowerment.

FemSex promotes an environment of self-love and empowerment through knowledge gained through group discussion, reading, analysis, guest speakers, films, and writing.
FemSex is a non-credit, community based course that challenges students through exposure to diverse opinions and experiences.  It is our hope that individuals leave the class with a newfound sense of empowerment and a greater understanding of how power and privilege are expressed in the world around us.
We strongly believe that everyone stands to gain something from FemSex and can contribute to the space, so we encourage folks of ALL identities to apply.

Classes will be held on Tuesdays from 4:30-6:30PM from April 15th to June 17th, with breaks on May 6th and June 10th.

TO APPLY:
Visit our website http://femsexaticu.wordpress.com and our facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/femsexaticu to check out the course syllabus and get more information. To keep the course intimate, we will be limiting the number of students to about 25 for this spring, so please apply early!

LANGUAGE:
Classes will be held in English, but there will be optional readings and guest lectures available in Japanese.

FACILITATORS:
Claire Doran
Claire is a graduate student and Rotary Peace Fellow at ICU. Born and raised in California, she facilitated the FemSex class at its original campus location at UC Berkeley. FemSex has since spread to many college campuses and this will be the first time it is offered in Japan. Claire is a community mediator specializing in intercultural conflicts and conflict transformation, recently serving as Program Director at the Asian Pacific American Dispute Resolution Center in Los Angeles. She is owned by two cats named Anglerfish and Mooncalf and loves coffee, surf rock, punk, poetry, comic books and riding her bicycle down the Nogawa and Tamagawa rivers.

Alex (Asuto) Yoshida
Alex or Asuto is currently a sophomore undergraduate student at ICU.  He was born in Tokyo, Japan and spent is middle and high school years in California.  Since his high school junior year, he was actively involved in GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) Network, both inside and outside of school.  Alex identifies as queer pansexual trans male.  Still deciding his major(s)- Sociology, MCC, or gender/sexuality studies.  Loves Japanese pop culture.

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[date & time]
4/15(Tue) 11:30-13:00
4/16(Wed), 17(Thu) 12:00-15:00

[place]
Center for Gender Studies @ ERB-I 301 (The rainbow flag will be a guide!)


Anybody who is interested in CGS or Gender & Sexuality Studies will be welcome!!

We would like you all to join us at our tea party! We are especially looking forward to meeting new students arriving this term. Come and learn about the major in Gender and Sexuality Studies.

It's a good opportunity to see and talk with other students and CGS staff.
You can share topics related to gender & sexuality, and ask questions about your registration, campus life, and study.

All staff are looking forward to your visiting with preparing tea and snack.
How about taking this occasion to visit CGS?

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Any Concern on Gender, Sexuality or Sex is Welcome!!

Recently, a clinical psychologist specializing in issues related to gender and sexuality has been engaged to join the Human Rights Counseling team as a special advisor, as well as to advise at the Counseling Center at ICU.

As a special advisor, she is available to counsel those seeking advice and those who are troubled by problems related to gender or sexuality. She is also available to speak with anyone seeking information about support systems and medical and psychological counseling services both on and off campus. If there is something that you feel like you can't tell your friends, academic advisor or teachers, but you need someone to talk to, please feel free to make an appointment to speak with her. If it is necessary for you to also speak with a Human Rights Counselor and/or a counselor from the Counseling Center to seek assistance, she can help you with that, too. Advising is free of charge. If you have a problem that's been worrying you, no matter how small, please come and talk with her about it.

Dates
Every Tuesday, 11a.m. - 5p.m.

Place
ERB-1, Room 318

*The location of the Special Counseling Room on May 13th (Tuesday) will be as follows:
11a.m. - 3p.m. Education and Research Building I (ERB-I), Room 318 (individual counseling in a private space)
3p.m. - 4:30p.m. Education and Research Building I (ERB-I), Room 301 (at the communication space inside CGS--there may be other people present)

Counseling services are available to...
ICU students (undergraduate and graduate students, kenkyuusei, OYRs) and all ICU staff

How to make an appointment
Send an email to: gscounseling@icu.ac.jp 
Address emails to Yoshimi Takada (special counselor) and Yuji Kato (CGS)

* The Special Counseling Room will be closed during winter break from 12/23 (Tue, holiday) to 1/5 (Mon), so responses to appointment requests may be delayed. Thank you for your understanding.

l Please include your name, contact information, and the date and time you'd like to make an appointment for. There is a possibility that your desired date/time may already be filled, so please provide several options.

l Each session may last up to 50 minutes per person.

l Even if you have not made an appointment, if there is an opening, it may be possible to meet with the counselor on the same day.

l Please do not try to ask for advice directly by email to this address; advice may only be requested through face-to-face appointments.

Counseling is available in
Japanese and English

Examples of topics needing advising
Discrimination and harassment related to gender and sexuality
Coming Out and associated issues
Sexual health
Pregnancy, birth and childcare issues
Issues regarding femininity and masculinity
Etc.

In order to protect your privacy, consultations will be kept confidential. Counselors will seek your permission in advance if it seems appropriate to report the case to other Human Rights Advisors or to discuss it at a Human Rights Advisors' meeting. Moreover, advisors will take the utmost care not to cause you any disadvantage from your having discussed your problems with them.

Special Advisor Profile
Yoshimi Takada
Graduated from ICU. As a Coming Out counselor, she provided psychological support to LGBT persons and their friends and family. Currently, she works as a psychologist at Japan Lutheran College & Seminary's Counseling Center. She is also a member of ICU Church.

A Message from Ms. Takada
If you're having problems with something now, or there's something that's been troubling you for many years, or even if you just want to talk briefly, I'm here to listen. Please feel free to contact me any time.

The Special Counseling Center for Gender and Sexuality is run with the support of the Center for Gender Studies. If you are considering asking advice but aren't sure, please contact the Center for Gender Studies.