19 February, 2015
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DAVID MAKOVSkY SPEAKS ON israel conflict By Joelle Leib ‘17 Staff Writer
T
wo years ago, a Claremont McKenna College professor referred to a Pitzer College student as a “cockroach” after the student antagonized him during a reenactment of an Israeli checkpoint at Collins Dining Hall during Students for Justice in Palestine’s (SJP) Apartheid week. This year, an unknown student stole several mezuzot (sacred Jewish scrolls) from the doorpost of a Jewish CMC student who had an Israeli flag hung on his wall. These recent outbursts have tarnished the Claremont Colleges’ reputation as safe spaces in which to engage in meaningful and constructive dialogue while highlighting the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as likely one of the most contentious issues on campus. A new 5C club, the Claremont Progressive Israel Alliance (CPIA), is hoping to change the hostile atmosphere on campus regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by encouraging students of all political ideologies to respectfully debate with one another on the future of the conflict and the possibility of peace. On Tuesday, Feb. 10, CPIA brought the distinguished Middle Eastern policy expert David Makovsky to
David Makovsky at a previous speaking engagement. Photo courtsey of Mike Sherwin
campus in an effort to promote the prospect of a two-state solution and peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. Makovsky, who received his graduate degree in Middle East Studies from Harvard University, most recently served as an advisor to Secretary of State John Kerry on Kerry’s Middle East Peace Team. Under the Obama administration, Makovsky negotiated directly with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders for nearly ten months in peace talks that were ultimately left unresolved.
Makovsky is also the Ziegler Distinguished Fellow at the Washington Institute and the director of the Project on Middle East Peace. He is a firm believer in the likelihood of the two-state solution and has written numerous articles in support of its implementation in publications including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. Makovsky addressed an audience of around 50 students, faculty members and community members in Benson Auditorium at
Bound by Myth: the pleasure chest sheds light on real BDSM culture
“Because it is negotiated and consensual, there really is no dominant person and there really is no submissive person, it just appears to be that way,” Mary said. “So it’s actually a totally even playing field.” In regards to the 50 Shades series itself and its infamous protagonists, Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey, there is only some overlap with a real BDSM relationship. The main criticism of the series surrounds the issue of consent: “Consent in the book is a little questionable. He does tell her what’s going to happen...and he wants her to sign a contract saying that everything’s consensual” Mary said. “The problem with that is that...a contract within BDSM is something that a lot of people will do...when you’re way [farther along] in a relationship...You don’t enter into that sort of thing when you just met
By Sophia Rosenthal ‘17 Staff Writer
M
ary, a sex specialist at The Pleasure Chest in West Hollywood, has covered a table with bondage tape, floggers, lube and an assortment of other sexy items from the well-known sex shop. “We can bring to this discussion about 50 Shades[of Grey] and kink play...what kind of role feminism can play in it...if you can be a feminist and get tied up and spanked,” Mary said. Ever since its release, E.L. James’ erotic novel 50 Shades of Grey has brought BDSM — Bondage/Discipline(Dominance)/ Sadism(Submission)/Masochism — to the forefront of popular media
Inside This Issue:
and culture. With its controversial subject matter and highly publicized film release on Feb. 13, it seems as if everyone and their grandmother either loathes or loves the series. The “50 Shades of Grey vs. BDSM” event on Feb. 11 in Vita Nova was hosted by the Scripps Peer Health Educators as part of National Sexual Health Week. The talk aimed to both untangle the myths perpetuated by the books, as well as to clarify how safe, consensual and fun BDSM play can be taken beyond the realm of fiction. As well as explaining the fundamentals of “risk-aware, consensual kink,” the workshop went over the aspects of BDSM that are often not addressed in the media.
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Page 9 - Features
Bring an end to Man-spreading.
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Pitzer College. Members from the conservative leaning Claremont Students for Israel attended as well as members from the liberal clubs JStreet and Students for Justice in Palestine. In his speech, Makovsky spoke of the difficulty he encountered while working on the Peace Team, but maintained a strong sense of optimism that peace is still possible. “My message is to tell people not to give up on peace,” Makovsky said to the audience. While working for the government, Makovsky toiled with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas over five key points: borders, security, Jerusalem, refugees and mutual recognition. Makovsky divulged that Netenyahu was much more lenient on borders and offered to give Palestine more land than expected, as well as was willing to help improve the living conditions of Palestinian refugees. Despite these breakthroughs, the two leaders could not agree upon issues of security and mutual recognition and the status of Jerusalem. “Obama offered Abbas the best deal I’ve ever seen and Abbas never got back to us,” Makovsky said. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
someone. It’s not informed consent... he wants her to be his slave before she even knows what that means.” On another level, many have criticized the book for its portrayal of women: “It is a continuation of a sexist view of women’s sexuality...there’s always a virgin…[who] knows nothing about sex and has no desires of her own...Anastasia really isn’t exploring her own sexuality...it’s a lot more imagery of male aggressiveness put onto female sexuality” Mary said. The good things? “They took... sexuality out of the bedroom a lot... and there is aftercare in the book... they have a couple things going for them.” Whether we love it or hate it, it seems that 50 Shades of Grey has made its mark. “It’s bringing the conversation about BDSM and sexuality in general into this common, cultural conversation,” CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Page 11 - Features
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