IU's V-Day campaign seeks to curb violence against women

On Friday, outside the IU State Room West in the Indiana Memorial Union, "Cunt, cunt, cunt" could be heard belted from senior Aura Vaught while rehearsing her solo performance in "Reclaiming Cunt," part of "The Vagina Monologues," put on by the IU V-Day campaign.\nThe campaign is sponsored by several IU groups to raise awareness and fund anti-violence groups.\nVaught said her particular performance is about "reclaiming the word "cunt," and that it's not necessarily a bad thing."\n"Embrace it and love all things about your vagina," she said.\nHowever, Vaught admitted, "It's hard to tell people about (my performance)" because it is so provocative, "but I am very proud of it."\nDuring the past couple of weeks, V-Day has sponsored local events such as a benefit show at the Bluebird, 216 N. Walnut St., and a dance party at the Art Hospital, 1021 S. Walnut St., to raise funds for Bloomington's Middle Way House.\nIts main event, "The Vagina Monologues," is scheduled to take place Feb. 22-24. The IU V-Day campaign, in conjunction with the IU Men's Coalition, will also host a free self-defense class today and a porn night Thursday.\nStarted several years ago, the campaign is part of a larger global movement. According to the V-Day Web site, www.vday.org, the controversy around "The Vagina Monologues" encourages a dialogue that can provoke change within the community.\nPerformed since 1996, Eve Ensler's "Vagina Monologues" helps the 2007 V-Day campaign, Reclaiming Peace, raise awareness of issues such as rape, incest, battery, genital mutilation and sexual slavery, according to the Web site.\nVaught and the other cast members have been rehearsing for the past four weeks in preparation for the three performances at the Whittenberger Auditorium.\nTickets will cost $10, or $8 with a student ID.\nPerforming "I Was Twelve, My Mother Slapped Me," freshman Ashley Troth will showcase a combination of women's stories about their first menstrual periods.\nTroth said the monologues help "raise awareness and open a dialogue" about female sexuality.\n"If you can make it funny, it's more palatable for people and it serves as a catalyst," she said.\nDuring the monologues "you'll think, 'Oh my gosh, I've totally thought that,'" said senior Holly Spitz, who will perform in IU's production.\n"When I saw (the monologues) I didn't know what to expect, but afterward, I did not shut up about it for a week," said Spitz, president of the IU Friends of Middle Way House.\nSpitz said the monologues help confront all sorts of issues, such as sexual assault and domestic violence, that Middle Way House regularly deals with.\nShe said 10 percent of the show's profit will go to the global V-Day campaign and the remaining 90 percent will go toward the Middle Way House in Bloomington.\nAmy Gastelum, president of the IU Women's Student Association, said the monologues are moving. She recalled a previous year when a resident assistant brought her floor to the show. Later that night, she said, they stayed up until 2:30 a.m. talking about their sexuality.\n"It's incredibly empowering," she said.\nGastelum, who is part of the production staff, said a lot of work went into putting on the monologues.\n"It's not your everyday show," said IU student Stephanie Estes, director of the show. "We challenge you to come see it and accept it"