York and Ryerson Universities are pleased to announce “Searching for New Imaginings: Facing Challenges for Activism and Justice in the University,” a series of three events with Sarah Schulman, Distinguished Professor of English at The City University of New York (College of Staten Island).

• The series opens on Saturday, 8 February 2014 from 8:00–10:00 p.m. with an evening panel discussion hosted at Ryerson University in LIB72 (350 Victoria Street) called “Challenging (our) Contradictions: A conversation with Sarah Schulman.” Schulman will introduce the discussion with a presentation on AIDS activism of the past and present, looking at tough issues and how they challenge us today. This will be followed by a public conversation with York (Accessibility, Community and Equity @ York and Students Against Israeli Apartheid) and Ryerson student activists thinking together about strategies and obstacles to accomplishing change. RSVP to schulmanryerson.eventbrite.ca.ASL interpretation and closed captioning will be provided.

• A light dinner and art performance, “Troubling Masculinities,” will precede the event, from 6:00–7:30 p.m. in POD250 (350 Victoria Street). Suggested donation for dinner is $10. RSVP to schulmandinner.eventbrite.ca.

• The series continues at York University: On Monday, 10 February 2014 from 2:30–4:30 p.m. in York Lanes 305 (4700 Keele Street), Schulman will lead a graduate student seminar titled “Being Uncomfortable, Holding Accountable: The Fundamental Practice of Justice.” Drawing on her recent book, Gentrification of the Mind: Witness to a Lost Imagination (2012), the seminar invites participants to consider personal and institutional practices of exclusion and their impact on our political and scholarly work. Details on the seminar, along with a short reading, are available at newimaginingstoronto.wordpress.com.

• The seminar is open to all graduate students, but space is limited. Please RSVP to newimaginingstoronto@gmail.com by 7 February 2014 at 4:30 p.m.ASL interpretation will be provided.

• Also at York, on Thursday, 13 February 2014 from 12:30–2:30 p.m. in Health, Nursing, and Environmental Studies (HNES) Room 140 (4700 Keele Street), there will be a screening of United in Anger: A History of ACT-UP and a Q&A with Schulman and Prof. Brenda Longfellow (York).The film will be screened with English subtitles.

A full outline of events is available at our website newimaginingstoronto.wordpress.com. Questions or queries can be directed to newimaginingstoronto@gmail.com.

Join our events on Facebook by clicking here!

All venues are fully wheelchair accessible.

Sarah Schulman was born in New York City. In addition to being Distinguished Professor of English at CUNY, she is a novelist, playwright, screenwriter, non-fiction writer, AIDS historian, journalist, and active participant citizen. Beyond Gentrification of the Mind: Witness to a Lost Imagination (University of California Press, 2012), her recent books include Ties That Bind: Familial Homophobia and Its Consequences (The New Press, 2009) and Israel/Palestine and the Queer International (Duke University Press, 2012).

Sponsorship

The series is a co-production of Ryerson University and York University.

Ryerson University supporters to date include: Department of Sociology, Center for Research in Critical Social Inquiry and Action at Ryerson, Ryerson Faculty Association, CAW-Sam Gindin Chair in Social Justice and Democracy, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, CUPE 3904, Ryerson Student Union Graduate Council, and Ryerson Student Union.

York University supporters to date include: Humanities Graduate Student Association, City Institute at York University (CITY), Faculty of Environmental Studies, Faculty of Graduate Studies, Canada Research Chair in Sustainability and Culture, and Graduate Program in Gender, Feminist & Women’s Studies.

Gokboru Tanyildiz, Shannon Bell, Sarah Schulman, Darren Patrick and Jessica Lee - February 10 2014