Students and community members talk about vaginas at the V-Day benefit

By Jenna Larkin on 3/25/2011 Signs were hung across the campus promoting the words "V-Day." The signs left viewers to question what they meant. What does the "V" stand for? Vacuum, vampire, vase, vegetarian? In actuality, the letter stood
According to Beth Mitchell, junior, her vagina is 'angry' and it has some things it need to say(Riana Rowles)
for "vagina". The Betsy Dole Women's Resource Center presented a V-Day benefit performance called "The Vagina Monologues," which took place in the Upton Conservatory and starred Olivet College students and people from the community.

This V-Day presentation was an organized response against violence toward women. Eve Ensler, an activist for women's rights, is also the playwright of "The Vagina Monologues," which has been translated into over 48 languages and performed in over 140 countries. Ensler was born in New York and graduated from Middlebury College in 1975.
Becca Jones Sophmore talks about people needing to talk about their vagina(Riana Rowles)


Olivet has hosted this event every other year since 2003. One hundred percent of the production's proceeds go to benefit charities, as a part of V-Day's international mission. Ninety percent of proceeds go to SIREN/Eaton Shelter of Charlotte, a place for women and children who are survivors of domestic violence. Ten percent goes toward helping the women and children of Haiti.

Each year, V-Day focuses on a specific group of women in the world who are struggling against violence. As a result of the recent destructive January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the aid this year goes there. All the funds raised through the Spotlight Campaign are used to support a national campaign in Haiti, led by a popular women's activist
Tajalli Kelley- Graves, junior, performs 'The Little Coochi Snoocher that Could.'(Riana Rowles)
and long time V-Day supporter, Elvire Eugene. The campaign addresses sexual violence through art, advocacy, safe shelter, and legal services.

According to Vday.org, "In 2007, Eve Ensler traveled to Haiti on invitation from local activists to spend time on the ground to learn from women firsthand what their lives were like. During her time in Haiti, there were three sold out performances of "The Vagina Monologues" in Port Au Prince. Another performance took place in Cap Haitian, where 500 people showed up. The support for V-Day's mission of ending violence was evident."

The director of "The Vagina Monologues" at Olivet was Joanne Williams, assistant professor of jour
Michelle Erskine, senior, reclaiming the c-word during her monologue.(Riana Rowles)
nalism and mass communication and theatre. Williams said some of the things said at the monologues were not quite rated "G." Williams, however, was in definite support of the play. She said that the important part is the impact of the play and the donations that will be given to the local and international women. "There are many women in the world. Some live happy and normal lives, and some are abused and under-represented. This show helps bring everybody to the same level," Williams said.
The cast of Vagina Monologues rejoices the success of their two productions.(Riana Rowles)