“Since 1998, V-Day, the global movement that grew out of Eve Ensler’s play ‘The
Vagina Monologues,’ has focused its attention on areas of the world where women and
girls are the most vulnerable. As V-Day approaches its fifteenth year of activism, we
are spotlighting the common history of racism, poverty, slavery, colonialism and war
that has thrown women into an endless cycle of violence and disempowerment. V-Day’s
work in the war-ravaged Democratic Republic of Congo, post-Katrina-New
Orleans, and the earthquake devastated country of Haiti is to reveal the links between
these issues and support women on the ground who are struggling for liberation and a
violence-free future.”
Senior Kyla Hadenfeldt– who gave the quote above– became interested in directing the V-Day show this year when she read for it the previous year.
“I just really wanted to work with other people and inspire them to be activists for the cause.”
From the show’s program, here is a blurb about what V-Day is: “V-Day is a global movement to end violence against women and girls that raises funds and awareness through benefit productions of playwright/founder Even Ensler’s award winning play, The Vagina Monologues. To date, the V-Day movement has raised over $45 million and educated millions about the issue of violence against women and the efforts to end it, crafted international, educational media and PSA campaigns, launched the Karama program in the Middle East, reopened shelters, and funded over 5,000 community-based anti-violence programs, as well as safe houses in Kenya, South Dakota, Egypt and Iraq. The V-Day movement is growing at a rapid pace throughout the world, in 112 countries and is a non-profit corporation, distributing funds to grassroots, national and international organizations and programs that work to stop violence against women and girls.” Kyla hoped that after seeing the show, people would ‘realize that violent acts can happen to anyone, anywhere, and as bystanders, I hope they’ll feel compelled to act.”
Katy Strzepek, a women’s studies professor and a big leader in violence awareness at St. Ambrose, said she hopes people realize that “violence affects both men and women. I’m always touched to meet with survivors and hear their stories. And it’s very likely that people in this room have experienced violence because one in four experience it. I think it’s great to have an event and let them know that they’re not alone.”
Katy first heard of V-Day after she took her class to a show at Augustana, and one of them–Katelynn Krahn–wanted to support it and have one at St. Ambrose.
“My plan was to have a group activism for the class to do, so that’s what we did,” Strzepek said.
St. Ambrose University’s V-day show was off to a good start – more chairs needed to be added for incoming guests. Once the room was settled and the show was ready to get going, Tim Phillips, our Dean of Students, stood up and had a few words of introduction. He thanked the women’s studies classes and the student director (senior, Kyla Hadenfeldt) for their hard work on putting the show together and told the audience of his gratefulness for St. Ambrose to be putting on the show because of “the importance to be aware and to be called to action for prevention of violence.” He discussed the SAU policies about violence on campus, stating that, “In reality, there are reports like (the V-day show readings) that we find detrimental to the environment we want for people to be able to flourish in (at SAU). This show is part of that effort.”
He then introduced Katy Strzepek who was thankful to those who donated to the cause, discussed the awareness behind the clothesline project, which was set up in the other room, and explained that there were SAAT (Sexual Assault Awareness Team) members and counselors at the event to help if someone needed to talk during or after the show.
Here’s a list of performers and the author and title of their piece:
- Chris Zavacki – The Destruction Artist by Michael Cunningham
- Rachel Wilson – My Two Selves by Patricia Bosworth
- Marie Adams – Darfur Monologue by Winter Miller
- Danielle Harris – Part Owner by Dr. Michael Eric Dyson
- Winnie Pena – 1600 Elmwood Avenue by Monica Szlekovics
- Rachael Wyant – First Kiss by Mollie Doyle
- Elene Magafas – In Memory of Imette by Periel Aschenbrand
- Maggie Rothan – Maurice by Kathy Najimy
- Hannah Wilke, Rachel Bacon, and Jennifer Arnold – Banana Beer Bath by Lynn Nottage
- Bernadette Muloski – The Aristocrats by Kate Clinton
- Ethan Johnson – The Closet by Howard Zinn
- Chantel Brandhagen – To Stop the Violence against Women by Alice Walker
- Jessica Pera – Woman by Tariq Ali
- Kyla Hadenfeldt – The Next Fantastic Leap by Elizabeth Lesser
- Spotlight piece: Cathleen Vilmont – FOR MY SISTERS IN PORTAUPRINCEBUKAVUNEWORLEANS by Eve Ensler
Holly Fettkether, a junior exercise science major and biology minor, was in attendance and later told me that it was her first ever women’s studies sponsored event. Her favorite pieces were Maurice (Kathy Najimy), performed by Maggie Rothan and Banana Beer Bath (Lynn Nottage), performed by Hannah Wilke, Rachel Bacon, and Jennifer Arnold.
When asked about the Maurice piece, which is about a girl who finds that the attention of a popular boy at school might lead to the corruption of her innocence, Holly said, “Maggie was very animated and it brought the story to life. Being a girl, I could see how it was a very relatable piece to many college social situations.”
The Banana Beer Bath piece also caught Holly’s eye, because the reading was about three sisters who are forced to hide in their father’s trough of banana beer during a night of genocide in Uganda.
After the show, I got a chance to talk to Katy Strzepek, who felt that, “The event went great! We had a great turnout and a lot of support from the community, students, and faculty. It’s great that we have so much support!”