Let’s talk vaginas
By Shawna Mount
In recognition of Domestic Violence Month, Women’s Studies faculty, students and staff members will perform the second annual performance of the Vagina Monologues at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. April 25 in the large auditorium, Room 168 of Brooks City-Base Campus.
Shuttle to Brooks performance
A shuttle bus, arranged by Vicky Elias, sociology and women’s studies program coordinator, and funded by the School of Arts and Sciences, is available to transport students the 10-mile distance from the student parking lot at Main Campus Building to Brooks Campus beginning at 12:30 p.m.
Students will be transported back to Main Campus after the performance through 4:30 p.m.
“I suggest students get there as early as possible, in case the bus becomes full,” Elias said. “The bus only seats 18 passengers.”
Vagina Monologues, written by Eve Ensler, is a live theatrical performance and part of V-Day, a global movement geared toward ending violence against women and providing funding for women’s shelters from collected donations. Each monologue relates to the vagina, be it through sex, love, rape, menstruation, female genital mutilation, masturbation, birth and orgasm.
The performance and collaboration between students, faculty and staff is a unique event on campus.
Reached by phone Monday, English Professor Ann V. Bliss said, “I think it’s the nature of the production for performers to collaborate.”
Bliss said there will be 8 to 10 students, two faculty and one staff member performing. She will also be performing a monologue.
Bliss added that the wonderful part of being part of the cast is the sisterhood that evolves through performing together.
“Initially it is unusual for students and faculty to collaborate but the support of women overcomes this,” Bliss said.
During an earlier phone call she said, “The performance involves issues we don’t normally talk about including the violence towards women based on sexuality.”
“These are real life stories,” Elias said. “Every story is unique.”
The movement and monologues are based on empowering women and providing a new perspective on controversial issues involving women.
“This performance is meant to educate,” Bliss said.
Performed in over 140 countries, V-Day stages large-scale benefits and produces innovative gatherings, films and campaigns to educate and change social attitudes towards violence against women, according to the V-day informational website.
Disability services Counselor Jolene DesRoches said rehearsals for the performance began in March.
The event has been advertised on digital boards, the University’s online calender, fliers posted on bulletin boards and off campus. A full page sponsorship ad appears on the back of this month’s issue of Ignite Magazine, a local GLBT publication.
That’s a significant increase in publicity since last year’s inaugural event, organizers said.
Monologues to be performed are as follows:
- Hair
- The Flood
- The Vagina
- Workshop
- Because He Liked to Look at It
- What If I Told You I Did Not Have a Vagina
- My Angry Vagina
- My Vagina Was My Village
- The Little Coochi Snorcher That Could
- Reclaiming the Cunt
- Six Year Old Girl
- The Woman Who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy
- I Was There in the Room
- For My Sisters in Portauprincebukavuneworleans
The performance is R-Rated for adult content and language.
Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. All proceeds will go to Bexar County Women’s Shelter.
“We’re hoping to raise about $500 this year,” Bliss said. “About twice the amount we made last year.”
“It’s a great opportunity to raise money for a good cause,” DesRoches said.
