‘Vagina Monologues’ event to raise money to stop violence

Students will have an opportunity to learn about the fight against
violence and abuse among women and girls through the play “The Vagina
Monologues.”

The play started its student-led performances at CMU in 2001.

“Topics that the monologues touch on range from child abuse to
issues about shaving,” said Megan Mulheisen, director of the play and
Wyandotte senior.

After talking with hundreds of women who shared their stories of
rape, incest, molestation and genital mutilation, Eve Ensler created
“The Vagina Monologues” in 1988.

Ensler began doing the play alone in small towns and large cities
all around the world and even won an Obie-Award.

As an outgrowth of the play, V-Day was created in recognition for
women who have endured sexual abuse and harassment.

V-Day is the same day as Valentine’s and will continue until
violence against women stops, officials say.

The idea of “The Vagina Monologues” is to make people aware of the
sexual abuse happening to women and to get comfortable with the vagina,
said Tim Connors, professor of theater at CMU.

“I think it’s a play that provides a needed voice for women’s
concerns,” he said.

Connors, who attended the play the past two years, said he noticed a
mixed audience of men and women of a variety of ages.

There are about 20 different monologues, including some that address
international issues. One of them is titled “My Vagina was My Village”
concerning a woman from Bosnia and Afghanistan.

Another monologue is about a woman who’s having sex with a man who
is obsessed with looking at the female’s vagina.

Although the play’s cast of 14 is women only, it is not a
man-bashing show, Mulheisen said.

The play will be performed at 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday in Warriner
Hall’s Plachta Auditorium.

Students, faculty and staff can purchase tickets for $5, the public
for $7 at the Central Box Office on the lower level of the Bovee
University Center or by calling (989) 774-3000 or (888) CMU-0111.

Tickets will also be available at the door for $10.

Proceeds from the production will benefit the nationwide campaign to
stop violence against women, V-Day and CMU’s student organization
Sexual Aggression Peer Advocates.