"What good is a right to same-sex marriage if there is systemic homophobia that is preventing you from being out in your workplace?" when learning about Charter remedies in Constitutional Law.
"If you're going to practice Witchcraft, makes sure your do it right!" in Criminal Law when learning about lord knows what. Mens Rea and subjective tests maybe.
Therein lies the brilliance of the difference between GC and RJ. One is brilliant in a constructive way and is a brilliant teacher. One is...brilliant it would seem maybe.
Also one of them rewarded the people who got the highest score based on the merit system with tickets to the Vagina Monologues. I did not get that. The tickets came with a disclaimer that not everyone wants to see their professor talk about her vagina for two hours, and that others in the room may appreciate them. I can think of one person who would love to hear GC talk about her vagina for two hours. SHe also came in this morning and announced, "I was laying in bed this morning, and I know some of you might not want to think of that, and I was listening to all the university closures and school closures and UVic open!". I definitly thought of that...and she definitly loved to come in and speak to us about remedies. Us, who are all stressed out memo cases and who haven't done the readings clearly. Stress levels are high. Breakdowns could come at any time. It's intense. It's poisonous...except for a beacon of light that is constitutional.
I think I was gonna print off cases to read tomorrow. I know that sounds terrible. It is.
Rach from a cool, rainy, but not snowy, dark Victorian night.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Trans Sports Panel and other awesomeness.
Tonight the UVic Law Students and Allies club, along with the Uvic Sports and Entertainment Law club, held a panel entitled Inclusion of transgendered athletes in Olympic Cycling: Implications for Canadian and International Sport Policy. Dr. Jim Rupert from UBC spoke about the biological aspects of gender, and to those regarding being transgendered or intersex, or any variation along a spectrum of hormonal differences. Then Dr. Ann Travers, a sociologist at Simon Fraser University who specializes in the areas of sport and gender, especially as related to gay sporting and womens sporting spaces.
It was just fascinating. I felt like I learned so much I have never even thought about before. Dr. Travers spoke about a sporting world that didn't have a male/female dichotomy or divide. She spoke of the possibility that given equal societal expectations and things like equal nutrition, that men and women could be competing at the same level.
Also, both spoke to the evidence thus far that transgendered athletes compete at similar levels to where the competed before their transition.
This panel was great! We had it in one of the fair size lecture halls, and it was nearly full! There were like...whole classes who had to manditorily come to this. And lots of support from the law faculty. I think that Both speakers were engaging, interesting and really intriguing material was presented by each of them. A lot of people were saying that it was one the best talks that has ever come through the law school. Wow...props us! I think its officially shorter just to type out all the names of the ppl in the club than to type out the name of the club...Jess, Didi, Mark, Andy, and Rachael. and Rashida. Yes shorter for sure. Mostly we just call it the gay club now.
Also on this exciting and best day of my week so far, I can speak about the fact that there is going to be a professor visiting soon from Feb 19-ish to March 19-ish from the University if Edinburgh, and she researches in the areas of transgendered persons legal rights, and feminist perspectives in Health Law. Its fascinating research if you ever want to look it up- Dr. Sharon Cowan. So apparently she and Gillian Calder have "danced a paper before". As in, quite literally, dancing out a paper instead of reading it. I don't really understand how that works, but I may ask them to do one. Or perchance I will just ask for a normal reading style lecture. We, and by we I mean the gay club and the Uvic Association of Women and the Law aka UAWL, decided on that at lunch since 3/4 of our regular members were at the UAWL meeting. I love it.
SO morals of the story: 1) Gillian calder is amazing 2) Transgendered sports panel was amazing 3) Visiting prof sounds amazing.
Rach, co-prez of a stellar club, from another cold, but bright and clear Victorian night.
It was just fascinating. I felt like I learned so much I have never even thought about before. Dr. Travers spoke about a sporting world that didn't have a male/female dichotomy or divide. She spoke of the possibility that given equal societal expectations and things like equal nutrition, that men and women could be competing at the same level.
Also, both spoke to the evidence thus far that transgendered athletes compete at similar levels to where the competed before their transition.
This panel was great! We had it in one of the fair size lecture halls, and it was nearly full! There were like...whole classes who had to manditorily come to this. And lots of support from the law faculty. I think that Both speakers were engaging, interesting and really intriguing material was presented by each of them. A lot of people were saying that it was one the best talks that has ever come through the law school. Wow...props us! I think its officially shorter just to type out all the names of the ppl in the club than to type out the name of the club...Jess, Didi, Mark, Andy, and Rachael. and Rashida. Yes shorter for sure. Mostly we just call it the gay club now.
Also on this exciting and best day of my week so far, I can speak about the fact that there is going to be a professor visiting soon from Feb 19-ish to March 19-ish from the University if Edinburgh, and she researches in the areas of transgendered persons legal rights, and feminist perspectives in Health Law. Its fascinating research if you ever want to look it up- Dr. Sharon Cowan. So apparently she and Gillian Calder have "danced a paper before". As in, quite literally, dancing out a paper instead of reading it. I don't really understand how that works, but I may ask them to do one. Or perchance I will just ask for a normal reading style lecture. We, and by we I mean the gay club and the Uvic Association of Women and the Law aka UAWL, decided on that at lunch since 3/4 of our regular members were at the UAWL meeting. I love it.
SO morals of the story: 1) Gillian calder is amazing 2) Transgendered sports panel was amazing 3) Visiting prof sounds amazing.
Rach, co-prez of a stellar club, from another cold, but bright and clear Victorian night.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
A return of sorts
I have been letting my blogging and my writing habits slide, which is clearly unwise, though sometimes absolutely necessary. So I am back, here I am, for better or for worse. In the habits of old I propose a list. Things that have saved my life over the past 4 days:
1. My friends. As always. They are the best. Ever. In life.
2. The beach. On Thursday, Saturday, and twice on Sunday. Serenity, beauty, perspective.
3. Writing. On my computer, in my journal, on the beach, on the couch, in my bed. Everywhere. Anywhere.
4. My newly returned copy of Fall on Your Knees by Ann Marie MacDonald, most noteably the most beautiful passage of writing that I have ever read on pages 176 and 177 of this copy.
It is a list of 4. I tried to round it out to 5 but there was not another one. I could have given props to things that actually saved my life like water and food, though the sub-functional oven is not to be thanked.
Thanks to those who I have had especially long talks with. Thanks to those who I have spoken sometimes with. Thanks for reading most of all. I hope all is well in the land that is outside of libraries or the law building.
Much love,
Rach, from a brilliantly clear, bright, almost full moon, crisp, cold Victorian Night
1. My friends. As always. They are the best. Ever. In life.
2. The beach. On Thursday, Saturday, and twice on Sunday. Serenity, beauty, perspective.
3. Writing. On my computer, in my journal, on the beach, on the couch, in my bed. Everywhere. Anywhere.
4. My newly returned copy of Fall on Your Knees by Ann Marie MacDonald, most noteably the most beautiful passage of writing that I have ever read on pages 176 and 177 of this copy.
It is a list of 4. I tried to round it out to 5 but there was not another one. I could have given props to things that actually saved my life like water and food, though the sub-functional oven is not to be thanked.
Thanks to those who I have had especially long talks with. Thanks to those who I have spoken sometimes with. Thanks for reading most of all. I hope all is well in the land that is outside of libraries or the law building.
Much love,
Rach, from a brilliantly clear, bright, almost full moon, crisp, cold Victorian Night
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Happy BIrthday Jeffrey!
Ahhh back to writting. It feels good again. Blazing and writing. Always a good pair. I'm back with my Victorian Nights. I have missed them. Ever since I gave up smoking, I have been staying inside to consume more, which is good for the lungs, but bad for appreciating my lovely victorian nights. THey are a bit cool these days, but still very much worth appreciating the nights on numerous nights out of the week.
Today is Jeffrey's Birthday, so I feel the west coast needs to offer a little bit of a b-day luv and celebrate in style. I don't want to suggest I will be drinking alone in my basement, rather we have our Cultural Extravaganza that night and people usually go out afterwards, so I'm sure a pint or two will be raised.
Were an actual toast required I would say something along the lines of To the best friend anyone could ask for! (and then the grammar nerd in me would say for whom to ask.) To one of the best people I know. To a fantastic listener, supporter in every endeavour, and fellow chill dude. This has been a really great year for a lot of things, and our friendship was one of them. Jeff at 22 you were really fantastic. Now you are Jeff at 23. A new year, we'll see what is to come, but whatever it is, it will be amazing i'm sure. Much love, much love sent all your way.
I am also reminded of my 23rd birthday. It was fairly phenomenal. It was my champagne birthday- that is I turned 23 on the 23rd of April. It was perfect. I made mimosas at noon, ate my favourite foods, read Jeanette Winterson's Sexing the Cherry for a long time, napped, blazed, drank more wine at dinner with Mom and Dad, and more champagne at Jeff's after dessert chez moi. We went to Molly Blooms. I vaguely remember. I didn't remember much the next morning, but Chloe let me know she drove me to the bar. I formally resigned from said establishment around midnight. Appparently I have been to Wink's twice. I really don't remember even having been there. Like at all. And even after all that. they apparently let me in to Jack's, where I may have consumed more or just kind of sat there not know what was going on. Eventually we ended back at Jeff and Ryan's and Ryan and Lauren and I watched V for Vendetta in HRyan's room. Yes HRyan is how I will refer to him. And miraculously I survived it all and did not vomit. Inexplicable I know. That was my 23rd b-day and it was amazing, well the parts I remembered and have been informed of later, and I was surrounded by people that I loved and did exactly what I wanted to do.
I have never made it to the end of this Regina Spektor song, and tonight I just did, and its so beautiful. THe beginning used to trip me out too much and the next song on the play list is one of my favourites so I would just always skip it. But it is beautiful- Daniel Cowman. Intensely beautiful at the end. Also exciting to discover something new in the music you listen to so so frequently. ...music nerd to apparently...my true colours shine....
This was a very long post. Thank you for getting through it. Happy Birthday Jeffrey. Horray for nostalgia. Love to all.
Rach, from a chilly, cloudy Victorian night.
Today is Jeffrey's Birthday, so I feel the west coast needs to offer a little bit of a b-day luv and celebrate in style. I don't want to suggest I will be drinking alone in my basement, rather we have our Cultural Extravaganza that night and people usually go out afterwards, so I'm sure a pint or two will be raised.
Were an actual toast required I would say something along the lines of To the best friend anyone could ask for! (and then the grammar nerd in me would say for whom to ask.) To one of the best people I know. To a fantastic listener, supporter in every endeavour, and fellow chill dude. This has been a really great year for a lot of things, and our friendship was one of them. Jeff at 22 you were really fantastic. Now you are Jeff at 23. A new year, we'll see what is to come, but whatever it is, it will be amazing i'm sure. Much love, much love sent all your way.
I am also reminded of my 23rd birthday. It was fairly phenomenal. It was my champagne birthday- that is I turned 23 on the 23rd of April. It was perfect. I made mimosas at noon, ate my favourite foods, read Jeanette Winterson's Sexing the Cherry for a long time, napped, blazed, drank more wine at dinner with Mom and Dad, and more champagne at Jeff's after dessert chez moi. We went to Molly Blooms. I vaguely remember. I didn't remember much the next morning, but Chloe let me know she drove me to the bar. I formally resigned from said establishment around midnight. Appparently I have been to Wink's twice. I really don't remember even having been there. Like at all. And even after all that. they apparently let me in to Jack's, where I may have consumed more or just kind of sat there not know what was going on. Eventually we ended back at Jeff and Ryan's and Ryan and Lauren and I watched V for Vendetta in HRyan's room. Yes HRyan is how I will refer to him. And miraculously I survived it all and did not vomit. Inexplicable I know. That was my 23rd b-day and it was amazing, well the parts I remembered and have been informed of later, and I was surrounded by people that I loved and did exactly what I wanted to do.
I have never made it to the end of this Regina Spektor song, and tonight I just did, and its so beautiful. THe beginning used to trip me out too much and the next song on the play list is one of my favourites so I would just always skip it. But it is beautiful- Daniel Cowman. Intensely beautiful at the end. Also exciting to discover something new in the music you listen to so so frequently. ...music nerd to apparently...my true colours shine....
This was a very long post. Thank you for getting through it. Happy Birthday Jeffrey. Horray for nostalgia. Love to all.
Rach, from a chilly, cloudy Victorian night.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
I am enough.
As a preface to this post:
a) Change=good. Goals= good. I have many. They are important to have.
b) I did not partake in my regular night time activity, and in fact, have only done so once since my return to BC
I find the suffix "est" to be problematic, or any superlative for that matter. It hit me tonight that I don't have to be "est" at anything, and maybe I will never be "est" at anything, and thats really really OK. I just don't have to be the smartest, the prettiest, or the most successful to realize and to know that I am smart, pretty, and successful. I will certainly make no claim to being the happiest, but I have moments of happiness. You know when you're a kid and your parents say that all you have to do is be the best [insert your name here] that you can be? I don't even have the expectation that I will be the best at that all the time. Sometimes I'm not the best Rachael I can be. We all make poor decisions, perform at levels that don't meet our own personal expectations, and straight-up just fuck up.
BUT.......the beautiful thing is- and it is definitely something that I am in the process of learning, and that I will likely forget sometimes- I am enough. Period. I am enough. Like I said, I am not the smartest, the prettiest or the most successful, but I am enough. Separate from what I do, what I achieve, what awards I win or don't win, and what grade I got on my torts exam, I am enough.
The thing is, no one out there is telling us that. I don't know if I have ever heard that in general, let alone heard that in direct relation to me. I certainly don't think I've ever felt that before. The media, society, my parents, all let me know on a fairly regular basis that I am in constant need of improvement, that I am not good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, that I need to do something, that action of some sort is required to better myself somehow. No one is telling us that just because we exist, just because we are human, in and of ourselves, we are enough. Without conditions, constant judgment, and intense scrutiny, I merit love and elicit pride just because I'm me. Oprah would call this an ah-ha moment.
me, from a windy victorian night
a) Change=good. Goals= good. I have many. They are important to have.
b) I did not partake in my regular night time activity, and in fact, have only done so once since my return to BC
I find the suffix "est" to be problematic, or any superlative for that matter. It hit me tonight that I don't have to be "est" at anything, and maybe I will never be "est" at anything, and thats really really OK. I just don't have to be the smartest, the prettiest, or the most successful to realize and to know that I am smart, pretty, and successful. I will certainly make no claim to being the happiest, but I have moments of happiness. You know when you're a kid and your parents say that all you have to do is be the best [insert your name here] that you can be? I don't even have the expectation that I will be the best at that all the time. Sometimes I'm not the best Rachael I can be. We all make poor decisions, perform at levels that don't meet our own personal expectations, and straight-up just fuck up.
BUT.......the beautiful thing is- and it is definitely something that I am in the process of learning, and that I will likely forget sometimes- I am enough. Period. I am enough. Like I said, I am not the smartest, the prettiest or the most successful, but I am enough. Separate from what I do, what I achieve, what awards I win or don't win, and what grade I got on my torts exam, I am enough.
The thing is, no one out there is telling us that. I don't know if I have ever heard that in general, let alone heard that in direct relation to me. I certainly don't think I've ever felt that before. The media, society, my parents, all let me know on a fairly regular basis that I am in constant need of improvement, that I am not good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, that I need to do something, that action of some sort is required to better myself somehow. No one is telling us that just because we exist, just because we are human, in and of ourselves, we are enough. Without conditions, constant judgment, and intense scrutiny, I merit love and elicit pride just because I'm me. Oprah would call this an ah-ha moment.
me, from a windy victorian night
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