UWG News Archive

V-Day Activities

February 3, 2005

CARROLLTON, GA - Although Valentine’s Day is traditionally a day to celebrate love and romance, many around the world are using it to spread awareness and raise money to fight all types of violence towards women.

The University of West Georgia’s Responsible Sexuality Committee will again present a series of three benefit performances of “The Vagina Monologues.” The performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 8th, through Thursday, Feb. 10th, at the Bonner Lecture Hall. Tickets are $5 for UWG students and $10 for the general public. Proceeds from the performances will benefit the Carroll Rape Crisis Center and the Carrollton Emergency Shelter. This play contains graphic language and some disturbing references to violence and oppression. Performances are not recommended for children.

The V-Day Committee will have a table outside of the University Community Center (UCC) from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. beginning on Monday, Feb. 7th, through Thursday, Feb 10th. During this time, advance tickets can be purchased and donations will be accepted. Tickets will also be available the night of the performance, however, seating will be limited.

The cast of this year’s UWG production includes Jessica Roegge of Stockbridge, Larrecia Jackson of Lithonia, Sandi Sloat of Fayetteville, Christina Pike of Duluth, Shaquita Hancock of Jonesboro, Barbara Evans of Hiram, and Paige Steadman of Peachtree City. Adrie Keaton of Jonesboro will direct the production with the assistant director being Kelly Williams of Columbus.

“The Vagina Monologues” was written by Eve Ensler and is a 1997 Obie award winner. The play is drawn from over 200 interviews that Ensler conducted with women from varied societal and ethnic backgrounds. Although the play can be lighthearted and celebrates all aspects of female sexuality, it also explores some of the secret fears and fantasies of women.

In response to the overwhelming feedback from audiences, Ensler founded V-Day, a foundation that, according to the V-Day website, “is a global movement that supports anti-violence organizations throughout the world, helping them to continue and expand their core work on the ground, while drawing public attention to the larger fight to stop worldwide violence (including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation (FGM), sexual slavery) against women and girls.”

According to a letter of welcome from Ensler on the V-Day website, “V-Day is an outrageous, global, personal, anarchic unstoppable movement. There are thousands, if not millions of us. We are everywhere. We have humor, intensity, sorrow, grace, and perseverance. We are having an impact.”

For more information on “The Vagina Monologues,” contact Karen Boettler at (678) 839-3922. To learn more about V-Day, visit its web site at www.vday.org.

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