To raise awareness about current women's issues, the Ball State community will recognize its first Vagina-Friendly Week with a series of campus events.
The week-long observation will allow students and local residents to learn more about matters that affect females in today's society, said Colleen Seaton, organizer for the upcoming V-Day campaign celebration.
"The purpose of the week is to bring awareness about violence against women and girls," Seaton said. "Hopefully by doing this, people will be more willing to do something about it."
Throughout Vagina Friendly Week, several campus organizations, including Feminists in Action and the Women's Studies Program, will collaborate to sponsor an event for each day. The money collected from the week's events will be donated to A Better Way Women's Shelter.
Vagina-Friendly Week is an extension of V-Day, a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. The week of events will serve as a precursor to the second annual Vagina Monologues, which will be held Feb. 24, 25 and 27, Seaton said.
A V-Day Fair will be held Monday in the Student Center music lounge from 5-7 p.m to kick off the week.
The fair will allow students to participate in games, win prizes and to learn more information about upcoming events, Seaton said. A nurse practitioner will also be available to answer students' questions.
Events throughout the rest of Vagina-Friendly Week will range from guest speakers to special poetry readings.
Kim Jones-Owens, director of the Women's Studies Program, will speak Tuesday on the topic "Money for Marriage: The Cupid Project and Domestic Violence."
Dr. Caroline Curlin will then speak Wednesday on "Avoiding Becoming a Target: How to Stop a Stalker." The speech will be a co-event between Vagina-Friendly Week and Sexual Assault Awareness Week, Seaton said.
On Thursday, a Sex Olympics will be held in Knotts/Edwards Halls as a co-event of the hall's Lust or Love Week, Seaton said. The olympics will provide students with interactive games such as condom bingo, she said.
Local band Hadassah Wax will also be playing Thursday at The Speakeasy, located in the Village. The event will cost $3 per attendee, Seaton said.
On Friday, the Village's mt cup will help host "Express Yourself Through Art," which will allow students to participate in interactive arts and crafts projects. Vagina-Friendly Week will conclude Saturday at The Blue Bottle, where everyone is invited to celebrate the V-Day National Campaign by sharing poetry.
Seaton said she is looking forward to this year's Vagina-Friendly Week. and hopes it will prepare students for the upcoming Vagina Monologues by making them more aware of important women's issues.
"People today are still afraid to even use the word 'vagina,' and hopefully that silence will be broken this year," Seaton said. "The events will make women more aware about themselves."
Ranada Bowie, coordinator for Vagina-Friendly Week, said she hopes both the Ball State and Muncie communities take the time to participate in the events this week.
Bowie said she helped to coordinate the Vagina Monologues last year and was pleased with the number of students who expressed an interest in women's issues. She said she hopes this year's Vagina-Friendly Week will spark the same level of interest.
"I want the same success as last year, but hopefully more," she said.
Seaton said while Vagina-Friendly Week is focused primarily on women's issues, she encourages both men and women to attend the events.
Because the week-long events will focus on domestic violence, rape, finance issues and health issues, they will benefit everybody, she said.
"It's good to attend the events to become more open and to experience new things," Seaton said. "No matter who you are, you can definitely learn something."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
