Junior graphic design and creative writing major Czarli Rex and sophomore art major Jade Querner discuss the formation of SCALES. The two women hope to educate curious Emporia State students about the truth on the BDSM and other alternative lifestyles. Jordan Storrer/The Bulletin
When Czarli Rex, junior art graphic design and English major, started living the Bondage Discipline and Sadomasochism (BDSM) lifestyle about 15 years ago, she didn’t have many solid supporters.
So Rex took the initiative to provide awareness about and support for those who engage in BDSM and similar activities. She is currently seeking to establish a group called Safe Consensual Alternative Lifestyle Education and support (S.C.A.L.E.S.) as a Recognized Student Organization.
“When I came back here, I found out that there was a pretty large group of people that were looking for education and support,” Rex said.
The group has been interested in gaining RSO status since spring 2011. Rex and the other members were denied RSO status last year, but they continue to push towards their goal.
“We haven’t filed anything yet, but we’ve got our petition, our mission statement and our officers. We’re just looking for an adviser,” Rex said.
According to ESU’s website, groups looking to gain RSO status must complete a mock constitution and petition for recognition forms.
At the moment, Rex says there are several members committed to promoting the general concept of the group and raising awareness for those that don’t necessarily know about the BDSM culture.
“We’re a weekly discussion group and we get about 10 to 15 people every week, and I would say we have double that. Maybe 30 to 35 members total,” Rex said.
One of the instrumental participants of S.C.A.L.E.S. is Jade Querner, sophomore art major and vice president of the group.
“Last year I had heard (about) it and somebody didn’t really explain it very well. It was really underground and people were really cautious about talking about it,” Querner said.
Querner also said that the group aims to be inoffensive and put any stereotypes that people may have about BDSM to rest.
“They did a very nice job of not really putting any bias or judgment and making sure no feelings were hurt, so I really wanted to be a bigger part of it this year,” Querner said.
In addition, Querner and Rex said that the group’s main focus is to educate those that do not know about BDSM or have the wrong idea and misconceptions about the culture.
“It’s definitely broadened my view on this way of living,” Querner said. “Before I went to any of the meetings, my knowledge about any of the BDSM stuff was based off of the media and they didn’t really do a good job with it.”
As of now, the group meets at 1 p.m. every Saturday in room 109D at the William Allen White Library. The group is also involved in a social media website, Fetlife.com, dedicated to awareness and providing information to the public about BDSM or any other fetishes.
If you are interested in joining S.C.A.L.E.S., or have any questions, Rex says to feel free to contact her at crex@emporia.edu.
Let me take a moment to correct some statements.
“When Czarli Rex, junior art graphic design and English major, started living the Bondage Discipline and Sadomasochism (BDSM lifestyle about 15 years ago, she didn’t have many solid supporters.”
First, BDSM is an acronym which stands for five words, not three. BDSM stands for Bondage & Discipline, Domination & Submission, and Sadomasochism. Each word has its own meaning. BD and DS respectively have meanings that are different than each word said separately. I wasn’t asked about the acronym. If I had been I would have made certain that my interviewer was given the correct definition. Second, when I started living the lifestyle about 15 years ago here in Emporia I had solid supporters but no local community. Today the local Emporia community is predominantly made up by the members of S.C.A.L.E.S.
“So Rex took the initiative to provide awareness about and support for those who engage in BDSM and similar activities”
I did take the initiative to provide education and support for people who engage in the activities. However BDSM is not just a set of activities that people engage in. For many people it is a way of life. We support those who both engage in the activities and live it as a lifestyle.
“Rex and the other members were denied RSO status since spring 2011.”
We were not denied status. We didn’t even apply in spring 2011 because we didn’t have everything that we needed at that time.
“In addition, Querner and Rex said that the group’s main focus is to educate those that do not know about BDSM or have the wrong idea and misconceptions about the culture.”
We do want to educate people who don’t know what BDSM is or have misconceptions about the culture. I believe that any educator within a community has that responsibility as it benefits not just the people but the community as well. I am happy to educate the public about BDSM and S.C.A.L.E.S. However, that is not the focus of our group. We are primarily focused on educating and supporting people within BDSM and other alternative lifestyles. Education within the lifestyle is very different from educating and promoting awareness outside of the community. We teach our members how to communicate emotional and physical risks to their partners, we show them how to learn what the risks are, and we give them resources so that they can be as safe as possible. What we teach isn’t just about the activities people can engage in. It is also about how to have positive and healthy relationships with good communication.
“The group is also involved in a social media website, Fetlife.com, dedicated to awareness and providing information to the public about BDSM or any other fetishes.”
First Fetlife.com is a social networking site for people who are interested in BDSM on any level. Second the website is not dedicated to providing awareness and information to the public about BDSM or any other fetishes. Severely misunderstood by the general public, BDSM is taboo at best and at worst is perceived as deviant abuse illegally perpetrated by the mentally unstable. No one is trying to hide Fetlife.com, but it definitely isn’t made for random public consumption. Its focus is on creating communities, sharing knowledge, and creating a positive environment for people to explore their sexuality and their lifestyles. Third, BDSM is not a fetish. A fetish, in sexual and BDSM terms, is an object or an idea that is required in order for a person to reach orgasm. BDSM is a lifestyle for some, a type of sexual activity for some, and a kinky addition to liven up the bedroom for others.
Thank you,
Czarli Rex
President of S.C.A.L.E.S. (Safe Consensual Alternative Lifestyles Education & Support)
It’s okay either way. They’ll just hike up tuition costs again to cover the water bill… Easy as pie