USI faculty, students and alumni join forces to perform benefit reading of The Vagina Monologues

The University of Southern Indiana will present a two-night-only benefit reading of Eve Ensler's award winning play The Vagina Monologues at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 26, and 7 p.m. on Friday, February 28 in Forum II of the Wright Administration Building on the USI campus. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. The event costs $8 at the door. All proceeds go to Willow Tree of Posey County, working to help women and girls coping with sexual assault and domestic violence.

Over the past two decades, tens of thousands of communities and college campuses have staged V-Day benefit performances of The Vagina Monologues - and other artistic works, campaigns and risings- in over 200 countries and territories. V-Day activists have raised consciousness, changed laws to protect women and girls, funded rape crisis centers and domestic violence shelters, educated their communities, and raised well over $100 million in urgently needed funds for groups doing the essential work of ending violence and serving survivors and their families.

The USI Philosophy Club has been working with other clubs and groups to present The Vagina Monologues as an annual benefit fundraiser since 2007. This year's event is co-sponsored by the USI Philosophy Club, the USI Gender Studies Program and the Student Government Association.

"As always, this year's performance is dedicated to women and girls around the world dealing with sexual assault and domestic violence, but this year we also dedicate our performance to Morgan Dale," said Dr. Mary Lyn Stoll, associate professor of philosophy and play director. "She had a passion for the power of telling stories and fighting for social justice regardless of gender or ability. She continues to inspire us even now." Dale was a philosophy major at USI and veteran performer in the Monologues who passed away earlier this year.

V-Day USI 2020 presenters include:

• Anna Ardelean (student)
• Amaka Atuegbu (student)
• Corliss Chastain (faculty)
• Haley Flamion (student)
• Izzy Ferraro (student)
• Grace Fishback (student)
• Karen Hohnstreiter (alumnus)
• Kennedy Jessup (student)
• Kelsey McCullough (student)
• Crystal Steltenpohl (faculty)
• Mary Lyn Stoll (faculty)

The New York Times called The Vagina Monologues, "probably the most important piece of political theater of the last decade." The play-first performed Off-Broadway and in locations around the world by Ensler-dives into the mystery, humor, pain, power, wisdom, outrage and excitement in women's experiences. V-Day grew out of the play which exploded onto the scene in 1998, breaking taboos about women's sexuality and shattering silence around violence done to women and girls. 

WillowTree of Posey County is committed to ending family and sexual violence in our community through public education and by providing victims, their families and loved ones with assistance and resources to enhance their quality of life.  For more information see willowtreepc.org.

To learn more about V-Day USI or the Vagina Monologues event, contact Dr. Mary Lyn Stoll at mlstoll@usi.edu or 812-461-5244. To learn more about V-Day and its campaigns visit www.vday.org.