Angie BlairState Hornet

“PLEASE DON’T TOUCH VAGINAS”–that is what one t-shirt on display in the Women’s Resource Center this month reads. The month of February is a time to celebrate love, passion and, of course, the vagina. This weekend, as in years past, the popularly controversial play ” The Vagina Monologues,” will be performed at Sacramento State.

The Monologues are full of messages involving sexuality, violence against women and even political issues significant to the times. The birth of the play initiated a worldwide movement to end the violence against women known as V-Day. The Vagina Monologues have been translated into over 25 different languages and are performed worldwide. Each year, millions of dollars are raised through V-Day to support women’s organizations.

Despite attempts from universities like Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s to ban the controversial monologues, here at Sac State there is a distinct opportunity to be a part of this unique piece of work. College campuses are allowed to perform the play three times a year during the month of February, royalty-free, as long as all the proceeds from the event go to a women’s charity.

At Sac State, the Monologues are directed and performed by students. The cast is made up of several girls from different backgrounds, each adding a part of their personal experiences to the performance. This year’s student directors are Michele Blomberg and Katherine Old.

“When I first read the script I thought it was very funny,” Blomberg said. “It takes the derogatory word ‘cunt’ and makes it into an empowering word for women.”

This year, there are a couple new editions to the Monologues, keeping it up-to-date with the pressing issues of our times. “Memory of a Face” is a monologue that highlights the disappearance and murder of women in Juarez, Mexico.

“The Monologues give a voice to unvoiced people,” Old said.

In addition, this year’s Monologues will honor what author Eve Ensler calls the “Vagina Warriors” — women working in their communities to end violence and oppression. Actual women who work in the field will be introduced at the end of the play.-

The Monologues also question stereotypes in society and celebrate women’s sexuality. It is no longer taboo to say the word “vagina.” Producer of the play and educator in the Women’s Resource Center, Jessica Heskin, is proud of the “in your face” way these issues are brought up.

“There are stereotypes that men don’t have to face, like you are a slut if you have sex,” Heskin says. “You haven’t seen the play unless you have seen it in a person. It is so powerful.”

The Monologues are not exclusive to women. The other half of the population of Sac State is welcome into the performance. There is not a trace of male-bashing to be detected.

“Men tend to think of women’s issues as not their own issues, but when they see the performance they get personally invested. They realize those women are their mothers, sisters and girlfriends,” Heskin said. Most men are also simply curious to see a group of women discussing their vaginas.

The Sac State Women’s Resource Center, in conjunction with the CSUS Women’s Studies Program and the CSUS Theatre and Dance Department, are sponsoring this event. The Women’s Resource Center, located on the bottom floor of the library, hosts a number of programs dealing with violence and sexual assault. In addition, they offer self-defense classes and peer education.