The educational fundraiser began with a “Vagina Fair,” which consisted of informational booths sponsored by the Neville House women’s shelter, the YWCA’s Stepping Stones counseling program for sexual assault survivors, the G-spot (ISU’s safe-sex peer education program), PRIDE, Planned Parenthood, Barnes and Noble, and Amnesty International. The $5000 raised from the sale of tickets, chocolate vaginas, and t-shirts went to organizations in the Bloomington-Normal community working to end violence against women and girls.

Members of FMLA and the community of volunteers that made this production possible were not acting alone that day—literally. Community productions of Ensler’s Obie-Award winning play were staged across the globe that weekend.

V-Day was born in 1998 as an outgrowth Ensler’s performances. As she performed her piece in small towns and large cities all around the world, she saw and heard first hand the destructive personal, social, political and economic consequences violence against women has for many nations and communities. Hundreds of women told her their stories of rape, incest, domestic battery and genital mutilation. It was clear that something widespread and dramatic needed to be done to stop the violence. A group of women in New York joined Ensler and founded V-Day as an annual educational, organizing and fundraising event.

“The Women’s Studies Program would like to thank Stephanie Bridges (FMLA president), Jessica Flowers (Director), Jill Schwartzmiller (Stage Manager), faculty advisors Kyle Ciani (Assistant Professor of History) and Ann Haugo (Assistant Professor of Theatre) and the entire cast for this valuable contribution to our campus and the greater community,” said Dr. Alison Bailey, Director of the Program.