Addressing abused women

Sam+Munson%2C+graduate+assistant+for+V-Day+club%2C+speaks+to+members+at+the+Center+for+Health+Promotion%2C+Wednesday%2C+Oct.+2%2C+2013.

John Freitag

Sam Munson, graduate assistant for V-Day club, speaks to members at the Center for Health Promotion, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2013.

Catherine Kruse Evergreen reporter

The WSU campus provides an environment for those affected by any form of abuse; V-Day, a club branching from the WSU Health and Wellness Center, helps this environment by campaigning to end the violence.

“We get the word out to raise awareness of violence towards women,” club officer Diana Chun said, “and make the action to stopping it.”

Public relations officer Cristina Parsley described the WSU V-Day as being part of a college campaign for the global V-Day organization. V-Day is a registered student organization that works with Health and Wellness.

The graduate assistant for the club, Sam Munson, said V-Day puts on fundraisers roughly twice a semester to help the community know about women affected by violence and abuse. However, the biggest fundraiser is the play put on in Todd Hall, commonly known as “The Vagina Monologues.”

The monologues is a play written by Eve Ensler, someone who interviewed more than 200 women about their experiences with sexual abuse and violence, according to the V-Day website.

The play is a compilation of different stories including some that are fun and some that are sad, said club member Janiloe Lowe. The play is put on by only females; no boys allowed.

However, this year the club is doing “The Vagina Monologues” differently. They will put on a production titled “A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant and a Prayer: writings to end violence against women and girls,” and men are allowed to audition for roles in the show in order to open a new perspective into the issue.

“Adding guys to the picture shows how men view it and how they feel towards women getting abused,” Lowe said.

The play not only shows how women are affected by abuse, but it also brings together victims of violence to show them they aren’t alone. It serves to support local beneficiaries, like Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse, so that they may continue to provide resources for violence victims.

“The Vagina Monologues” will play Feb. 20-22. Auditions are Oct. 29 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. and Oct. 30 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in Todd 302. Auditions are open to students and the public. One does not have to be a part of the V-Day club to audition for the show.