Conversio Virium

Barnard Event: Sexhibition 2008

Sexhibition is Barnard/Columbia Take Back The Night’s annual sex-positive, consent-based fair. This year’s event will take place on Lehman walkway (rain location to be announced).

CV donated a pretty exciting raffle item, so you should all get tickets!

CV Meeting: Pushing the Limits of Sane in SSC with Blaise Part 2

Safe, Sane and Consensual is the motto of many BDSM educators and organizations including CV. Sanity, however, is one category which is especially subjective. Blaise will lead a discussion about substances and how their use pushes the limits of SSC in a scene.

CV Featured in the Gadfly

CV has been featured in the Winter 2008 issue of the Gadfly, Columbia’s Undergraduate Philosophy magazine.

In the article, May May and I talk about pleasure, pain and how those two things relate to [kinky] sex.

If you haven’t already seen the article, you should check it out on their website (it’s a PDF). The article is called “Tie Me Up: A Gadfly Interview with Conversio Virium” and begins on page 13 of the magazine.

Without notions of pain, we could not know pleasure—pleasure and pain, one might argue, are two sides of the same token. Or, as the following interlocutors might argue, one side of the same delicious, voluptuous token. In exploration of this latter view on pleasure-pain, Gadfly is proud to bring you an interview with Vice President Tyler and webmaster Maymay of Conversio Virium (CV), Columbia’s very own student BDSM club.

Read the rest of the article here.

CV Elections! Decision 2008!

All members (valid CU-affiliates) are requested to come to this meeting to nominate, run and vote. As always, every CV executive board is up for re-election, which means we have four positions that need filling by current CU undergrads (who expect to be enrolled until at least 2009). These positions are as follows:

President: Generally runs meetings, sets up programming each week with the help of the VP, public relations representative, and handles official correspondence.

Vice-President: Handles membership cards and records, handles correspondence, plans weekly programs with Pres., gets the nifty title of “President of Vice,” fills in any gaps as needed.

Treasurer: Handles all finances, must be especially responsible, reliable and expect to attend meetings regularly, handles refreshments.

Secretary: Sends out [witty] weekly emails, posts events and meetings to the website, helps out in any other way needed by the board.

If you think you’ve got what it takes, or even if you don’t, WE WANT YOU to help run Conversio Virium next year. Remember, this is great experience if you are thinking of going into event planning, public relations, or anything that requires a cool head, and strong organizational skills.

CV Meeting: Erotic Hypnotism

If you missed last year’s hit presentation on Erotic Hypnotism, make sure to catch this week’s meeting. Everyone’s favorite hypnotist is back with a second installment.

If you happened to miss this year’s meeting as well, you can read the handout by following the link above.

LSM Event: Flames of Desire: Tantric Fireplay with Barbara Carrellas

Since it would quite an ordeal to schedule a Fireplay demo or workshop on campus, I am pleased to announce that Barbara Carrellas will be holding just such a class at LSM this month.

Where: The LGBT Center at 203 West 13th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues
Cost: $5 for members, $10 for non-members

For more information about LSM attendance policy, please be sure to visit their website.

Imagine the relaxation of a sensual massage combined with the thrill of fireplay. In this workshop, you will learn how the sensuous use of fire can transform a sensual massage into a trance-inducing journey into bliss. Barbara will demonstrate four secrets of exquisite touch as well as the basic techniques of fireplay. She will then demonstrate how her unique combination of fire, conscious breath and sensual massage can create a dramatic, profound and intensely pleasurable sexual and sacred experience. Technique, safety, and sensual/art/erotic applications will be covered. Even if you might think that fireplay is not your thing, you may be surprised by the sensual beauty and artistry of the dance of the flame.Barbara Carrellas is the author of Urban Tantra: Sacred Sex for the Twenty First Century and Luxurious Loving: Tantric Inspirations for Passion and Pleasure. She is the founder of Urban Tantra®, an approach to sacred sexuality that adapts and blends conscious sexuality practices from Tantra to S/M, and the co-founder of Erotic Awakening, a pioneering series of workshops focusing on the physical, spiritual and healing powers of sex. Barbara was named Best Tantric Sex Seminar Leader in New York City by Time Out/NY Magazine for her Urban Tantra® workshops. Barbara has been featured in the videos Selfloving, The Sluts & Goddesses Video Workshop, Zen Pussy, Annie Sprinkle’s Amazing World Of Orgasm, in the film Sacred Sex, and in several episodes of the HBO television special Real Sex. Barbara frequently lectures, performs and facilitates workshops with her partner, author and gender outlaw, Kate Bornstein. Visit www.barbaracarrellas.com and www.urbantantra.org to find out more.

KinkyJews: Purim Striptease Extravaganza

Join KinkyJews on a trip to a strip club this Saturday in honor of the Purim holiday.

LOCATION: HOT Lap Dance Club
Midtown West (RSVP for the meet up location)

DATE: Saturday Night, March 22
MEET UP TIME: 11:00 PM

OPEN TO: Men and Women 21+

COST: There is a one time Membership Fee of $10 and an Admission Fee of $50. The cover charge includes unlimited beverages and mixers, snacks and a hot and cold buffet dinner. BYOB.

RSVP: to contact@kinkyjews.com to receive meet-up time and location

LSM Meeting: Ouch…MMM! Temporary Piercing Workshop with Ray Aims

Mmm, piercing. If you couldn’t get enough of this sexy art-form at the College-Night party at Paddles, check out this workshop with the Lesbian Sex Mafia.

Where: The LGBT Center at 203 West 13th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues
Cost: $5 for members, $10 for non-members (Be sure to renew your LSM membership for 2008!)

Piercing flesh can be any combination of incredibly erotic, intimate, painful, beautiful and brutal. Have you been curious about temporary piercing but didn’t know where to start? Playing with needles is fun but getting started can be daunting. This workshop will cover where to find the materials to start, safe play for piercer and piercee, proper preparation of the skin, how to set up a clean and safe play area, and how to safely pierce for pain, pleasure and art. We will start with piercing fruit and move on to piercing people. Each person who wants to experience piercing and/or being pierced will have the opportunity to do so. Partners, play partners and singles all welcome.

Ray Aims is the alter-ego of a Boston, MA USA based artist/designer/producer/performer who has been piercing in public and private since 2003. The fight between beauty and pain is what draws Ray to temporary piercing. Ray learned temporary piercing from Fetish Diva Midori and consultations with Aimee Ross/The Bearded Lady and is always practicing and learning. Ray’s work can be seen at www.truthserum.org/rayaims and http://www.truthserum.org/rayaims_photos.

CV Meeting: The Power of Playing with Gender- A BDSM and Sex Workshop taught by Corey Alexander

Gender is more than man or woman, intersexed or trans. Gender is also an arena of power, rich with opportunities for play. Regardless of actual body, gender identity or sexuality, in gender play, we all can be sissies, fags, little girls, goddesses, and leather daddies. This workshop is designed to enrich your sex and play and help you find your gender hot spots.

Advice from CV: Legality of Paying for BDSM

Dear CV,

I am considering visiting one of the many establishments in NYC where one can purchase BDSM-related services. I am a complete novice to these activities but I am very interested in learning what they have to offer.

However, I am very concerned about the legal status of these businesses. Is it indeed legal to visit one of these places? Could one be arrested for being there and engaging in the fantasies that are described on their websites?

Thanks!

—Considering a Pro

Dear Considering a Pro,

Dungeons are indeed a legal enterprise in NYC. While prostitution is illegal in New York, commercial dungeons do not offer sex as a part of the services you may purchase. To define it more clearly: it’s legal to masturbate yourself, but the provider can’t do it for you.

So to address your concern, no, you should not have to worry about being arrested just for being at a dungeon or for paying to practice BDSM. Just remember to follow the code of conduct of the establishment, don’t solicit sex, and respect the boundaries of the provider you are spending time with.

Best,
Tyler and the other Officers of Conversio Virium

LSM Event: Wax to the Max with Lolita

If you have not seen Lolita present, you should definitely attend this event.

Where: The LGBT Center at 203 West 13th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues
Cost: $5 for members, $10 for non-members (Be sure to renew your LSM membership for 2008!)

You’ve seen it in the movies: a romantic evening, a room lit warmly by candlelight… Well, LSM is ready to show you how to take that “date” to the next level with our presenter Lolita Wolf and Wax to the Max. Watch and learn (and maybe experience it for yourself) as Lolita takes us through the safe and sexy ways to play with wax. Not to be missed!

As always, if you would like to volunteer to post more LSM events to the CV website, please let us know.

CV Meeting: Boot-Blacking 101 with Kyle

Kyle’s back in town and, as we’ve all come to expect, has brought along his boots. This week he will demonstrate basic boot-blacking techniques and what makes this leather boy practice so hot. Extra points if you wear a pair to the meeting.

CV Special Event: Glass House Rocks 2008!

CV will be tabling for the first time at Glass House Rocks this year. Glass House Rocks is a party that takes over every floor and room of Alfred Lerner Hall, which is free and open to all with a valid CUID. Free cocktails for those over 21 with 2 valid pieces of ID.

Find our table on the 2^nd floor of Lerner Hall and play some kinky games with us.

CV Meeting: Welcome back and Show and Tell!

CV is back with a vengeance after a long (and much needed) winter break. Join us for a relaxed meeting to connect with old friends, and to make some new ones. Bring something interesting and kinky to share (toys, anecdotes, yourself, etc.).

Please note, we have a new location for meetings this semester! Conversio Virium meetings will now be held in Room 303 Hamilton Hall. We’ll try to post a sign on our old room (301 Hamilton Hall) pointing you to come in next door to Room 303, but that sign won’t stay up long.

CV Meeting: Mystery Party

This is the last CV meeting of the semester. We will start up meetings again on January 28^th, stay tuned for details.

Join us for some holiday cheer, a study break, and hugs to any members who may not be able to attend CV in the Spring. Bring your lovely self, your lovely friends, and any ideas you have for another 4 month installment of your favorite kinky club. We have some exciting announcements and some surprises in store. Hope to see you all there!

CV Meeting: Erotic Knifeplay with Nick

Nick of Nicholas Leather explores the many facets of erotic knifeplay. Learn how to create a wide variety of sensations with sharp knives, from intense pain to intense pleasure. We will also discuss knives in relation to fear, interrogation and mental bondage, as well as methods for incorporating knives into your scenes.

CV Meeting: Pushing the Limits of Sane in SSC with Blaise

Safe, Sane and Consensual is the motto of many BDSM educators and organizations including CV. Sanity, however, is one category which is especially subjective. Blaise will lead a discussion about substances and how their use pushes the limits of SSC in a scene.

CV Meeting: Your Secret Map to the World of Kink Ethics as drawn by Praxis Productions, a.k.a. the Corey and Jay show

Ethics are the quest for base guidelines to life’s big questions. Ethics can be a place to go when you need a map, or a way to counter external judgment. They can be a way to clarify philosophy and action, or a way to break old patterns of dysfunction. Ethics are guaranteed to make your kink life, relationships, and fuck ups much more complex and interesting. In this rollicking interactive extravaganza, Jay and Corey will offer you a starter pack of our Super Secret Universal Four Pillars of the House of Kink Ethics*. We will also give you the tools to build your own system of kink ethics. It won’t protect you from heartbreak or herpes but it can help you maintain your integrity.

*number and context subject to change.

CV Special Event: Erotic Breathwork with Barbara Carrellas

**Reservations for this event will end at 8:00 PM Sunday November 18^th. No information will be forwarded to those who RSVP after the cut-off so that we can ensure that we will have enough space for this popular event.**

Some of the CV crew met Barbara at Floating World this summer. I was fascinated by her unique classes and by a spiritual side of sexuality I had not considered before. She has kindly agreed to grace us with her presence and expertise in erotic breathing.

Here is Barbara’s description of the workshop:

Breath is your greatest source of energy and aliveness. It can produce so much pleasure, it will amaze you. Once you become familiar with moving erotic energy around with your breath, you’ll find all your erotic encounters to be much more fulfilling. Your orgasms will be longer and deeper. You will share a more authentically intimate connection with a partner. You’ll even find yourself using breath techniques in non-erotic situations to bring erotic energy to more and more areas of your life.
In this workshop we will learn and practice a variety of simple breath techniques that you can put together to to create unlimited erotic possibilities. Then we’ll put them together to explore the the vast range of orgasms which lie beyond those achieved by genital stimulation. Finally, we’ll practice energy orgasm techniques that you’ll be able to incorporate into whatever kind of sex and play you enjoy.

Important Note: This meeting will not be held at its usual time and place. Read post for more details and instructions.

Since this meeting will require more space than usual, as well as a little more time, we kindly request that you RSVP in advance by emailing conversio@columbia.edu. Only those who are on the list will be allowed to attend. If you are a CV member, please give us the name that is on your membership card or your name on your CUID, which will be used to verify your reservation. If you are not a CV member, please provide a name which you can verify with a form of ID. Non-Columbia University affiliates should state their affiliation (university, organization, friendship, etc.) in their RSVP email. As always, all are welcome.

In addition, we will not be allowing entry after 9:00 PM so that we can get started with the workshop. Doors will open at 8:30 PM. Barbara’s books will be on sale after the workshop at 11pm.

Location: Will be announced upon reservation.

This event is being held thanks to the cooperative support of Q at Barnard College.

CV Meeting: Sexy Halloween Fright-Fest

Join us this week for a Halloween party in which we invite you to bring your best in BDSM erotic literature, and/or scary stories. We’ll gather around an imaginary campfire in 301 Hamilton and see who can deliver the most thrilling, heart-stopping tale of horror and raunch. Dress in costume, or spooky old everyday clothes, whichever you like. Come a little early if you’d like to help us create some Halloween ambiance.

Note: There will be NO meeting next week (November 5th) due to academic holidays and election day, so get your CV fill this week.