Students in Penn State Dickinson School of Law's Women's Law Caucus hope their production of Eve Ensler's Vagina Monologues will raise more than just valuable funds for Domestic Violence Services of Cumberland and Perry County and the Rape Crisis Services of Cumberland County; they hope it will help raise awareness about violence against women and girls and what can be done to stop it.
Ensler conducted nationwide interviews with women regarding their sexuality, womanhood and femininity to create the Monologues. The law school's performance of the play will be held at 8 p.m. Feb. 16 in Dickinson College's Anita Schlecter Auditorium on Louther Street in Carlisle.
"Violence against women is an issue that affects many people in the Carlisle community, in Central Pennsylvania and on the national level," said third-year law student Brady Montalbano, a member of the Women's Law Caucus and event organizer. "This awareness-raising production seeks to break down barriers and engage our community, inspiring it to take a stand against the pervasive violence that women and girls endure."
The student group is presenting Monologues as part of a greater movement known as V-Day, the global effort to bring safety to women around the world. Spurred by tragic stories she heard from women while performing her award-winning Monologues, Ensler collaborated with a group of women from New York to found V-Day and begin a quest to end the violence.
Since its founding in 1998, V-Day has, among other achievements, generated more than $30 million; raised awareness among millions; and founded more than 5,000 community-based anti-violence organizations as well as safe houses in Kenya, South Dakota, Egypt and Iraq.
Penn State Dickinson's Women's Law Caucus is joining student groups across the country and around the world to offer Monologues in conjunction with the V-Day College Campaign. Advance tickets can be purchased for $5 at the YWCA of Carlisle, 301 G Street, phone (717) 243-3818, or at Penn State Dickinson's Office of Student Services, Trickett Hall, 150 S. College Street. Tickets can be purchased the night of the event for $7. Contact Tamara Storey, director of Student Services, at (717) 241-3506 or tcb2@psu.edu for more information.