1. EDITORIAL: Cuffs deserves more than unclear case
2. Cuffs fights for BDSM rights
3. Flogging Demonstration Brings Charges
4. Cuffs charged with violation of code
5. Exploring myths of a sexual subculture
6. Cuffs deserves more than unclear case
1. EDITORIAL: Cuffs deserves more than unclear case
2. Cuffs fights for BDSM rights
3. Flogging Demonstration Brings Charges
4. Cuffs charged with violation of code
5. Exploring myths of a sexual subculture
6. Cuffs deserves more than unclear case
Editorial
Iowa State Daily
February 19, 2004
In the Feb. 18 Daily article "Cuffs fights for BDSM rights," ISU Director of Judicial Affairs Bethany Schuttinga said she based her decision to charge Cuffs with assault on the 1985 case State of Iowa v. Edward Collier. The case itself, though, is a suspect ruling upon which to base a charge.
Under Iowa Code section 708.1, a person commits an assault when, without justification, the person commits any act which is intended to cause pain or injury to, or which is intended to result in physical contact … to another; any act which is intended to place another in fear of immediate physical contact which will be painful, injurious, insulting or offensive … ; or intentionally points any firearm toward another, or displays in a threatening manner any dangerous weapon toward another.
Collier said the sadomasochistic activity, which he claimed occurred, was a social activity, which would make it exempt from the definition of assault in section 708.1 of the Iowa Code. Voluntary participants in a sport, social or other activity, not in itself criminal – and if the the act is a reasonably foreseeable incident of such sport or activity – isn't seen as assault.
Case by case. The Office of Judicial Affairs at Iowa State would do well to consider those words when citing the case of State of Iowa v. Edward Collier when accusing Cuffs of assault. It's time to take another look at how we define, or fail to define, "sport, social or other activities."
[cont.]
To read this editorial, go to:
http://www.iowastatedaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/02/19/403423ce7c24d
To respond, write to: letters@iowastatedaily.com or comment at bottom of editorial
Cuffs fights for BDSM rights
by Tom Barton
Iowa State Daily
February 18, 2004
There have been racial rights, women's rights and most recently, gay rights movements in the United States. But what about bondage, discipline, domination and sadomasochism rights?
This is the next step in civil rights movements, some ISU American Civil Liberties Union members and Cuffs members said as they gathered Monday to discuss the issue and hear from Cuffs president Harlan "Duane" Long Jr. in light of the university charging Cuffs, an ISU student organization that teaches BDSM practices, with assault.
"Cuffs is part of a burgeoning social movement on behalf of the BDSM community. It's time someone took a stand," Long said. "BDSM should be an accepted social activity if done safe, sane and consensual, as Cuffs promotes."
[cont.]
To read this article, go to:
http://www.iowastatedaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/02/18/4032ec2792fc5
To respond, write to: letters@iowastatedaily.com or comment at bottom of article
Flogging Demonstration Brings Charges
Associated Press
via Newsday
February 18, 2004
AMES, Iowa – A student bondage club at Iowa State University has been charged with violating university rules after a flogging demonstration in December. The school's Office of Judicial Affairs charged the group Cuffs with assault in violation of the Student Conduct Code and Iowa law.
A letter outlining the charges was given to the group's president, Duane Long Jr. on Monday during a meeting with Bethany Schuttinga, the director of ISU judicial affairs.
"Cuffs leadership planned and implemented a demonstration at a scheduled Cuffs meeting involving the striking of another person(s) with a whip, belt, flogger, paddle, cane and hand with the intention of causing pain to that person," Schuttinga said.
She said the flogging amounted to an assault, which violates the university's conduct policy and Iowa law.
[cont.]
To read this article, go to:
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-fetish-club,0,7633717.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines
To respond, write to: letters@newsday.com
Cuffs charged with violation of code:
Activity at student meeting considered assault by university
by Tom Barton
Iowa State Daily
February 17, 2004
A student bondage and sadomasochism group has been charged with assault by the university, following a two-month investigation into possible violations of student disciplinary regulations during a demonstration.
The university's Office of Judicial Affairs charged the campus BDSM group Cuffs with assault in violation of Student Conduct Code and Iowa law in a letter given to the group's president, Harlan "Duane" Long Jr., Monday in a meeting with the Director of Judicial Affairs, Bethany Schuttinga.
In the letter, Schuttinga stated she found the following in her investigation:
"Cuffs leadership planned and implemented a demonstration at a scheduled Cuffs meeting involving the striking of another person(s) with a whip, belt, flogger, paddle, cane and hand with the intention of causing pain to that person. The striking of another person with the intent to cause pain is an assault under the Student Disciplinary Regulation and under Iowa Code Section 708.1."
[cont.]
To read this article, go to:
http://www.iowastatedaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/02/17/4031a6a550685
To respond, write to: letters@iowastatedaily.com or comment at bottom of article
Exploring myths of a sexual subculture
By Bob Keyes
Portland Press Herald (Maine)
February 15, 2004
Photographer Barbara Nitke approached the subject of sadomasochism from the perspective of an unknowing observer. She discovered that her assumptions about the kinds of people who engaged in the behavior were wrong.
"I thought if you were interested in it, it had to be because you had some traumatic childhood experience that reshaped your love life in a certain way. That was my theory, and it was quickly disproven," said Nitke, who will be at Radiant Light Gallery in Portland Friday to sign and discuss her newly published photography book, "Kiss of Fire: A Romantic View of Sadomasochism."
An exhibition of her photographs also is on display. Thomas Adams, who runs the gallery, says the artistic merit in [Nitke's] work lies in her technique and composition. She uses infrared film to create a surreal atmosphere; the photos lack sharp focus and often seem cloudy. Few photographers use infrared film because of its challenging nature.
[cont.]
To read this article, go to:
http://www.pressherald.com/audience/stories/040215kissfire.shtml
To respond to the author, write to: bkeyes@pressherald.com
To respond to the editors, go to:
http://www.pressherald.com/email/editor.shtml
HOW TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Feedback letters are an effective way to convey a positive image of alternate sexual practices such as SM, swinging, or polyamory. You can help to correct negative social myths and misconceptions about these types of practices. These letters help achieve the advocacy goals of the NCSF.
Generally, for a letter to be published, it's important to include your name (or first initial, last name), city and daytime phone (for verification only). For more information, see:
https://ncsfreedom.org/media/writelettertoeditor.htm
Please alert us to positive, negative or neutral stories about SM, swinging and polyamory at media@ncsfreedom.org