We're Not Done Yet!

V-Men is just getting started!

While we were preparing The Vagina Monologues, our V-Men have been busy getting some events together. These men-folk are invaluable to stopping sexual violence. As Vagina Warriors, they act as advocates and role-models for a vagina-happy world. V-Men, as an international movement, has been picking up steam for the last couple years. Hundreds to men have hosted workshops around the world, speaking out to one another and contributing to the conversation about sexual violence. You can visit http://www.vday.org/meet-vday/v-men to learn more about the movement.

Tough Guise poster

V-Day at Westminster began openly hosting V-Men three years ago, at the time a simple meeting asking the pivotal question, "What is men's role in stopping sexual violence?" From that single meeting in 2009, we've expanded V-Men into workshops and movie screening

Most exciting thing of all, we're still expanding! Some events we have coming up:

Screening of the documentary Tough Guise: Violence, Media and the Crisis in Masculinity.

Tough Guise is no stranger to Westminster. It was screened a couple years ago and it's time for it to come back! The documentary examines the pop-culture and social representation of masculinity. Furthermore, the film argeus that the prevalence of violence committed by young men results from a crisis in masculinity. You can learn more about the film at Jackson Katz's website: http://www.jacksonkatz.com/video2.html

Tough Guise will be screened on Monday, March 7 at 7:30 pm in Malouf 127. 

Derek Dujardin

Presentation by Derek Dujardin, the writer of the MENding Monologues
For the past five years, Derek has helped write personal monologues that help countless men heal by getting in touch with what the true cost of gender violence is to their relationships. The monologues focus on what he calls "second-hand abuse" or "collateral damage done to men via the abuse done to the women in their lives." Find out more about the MENding Monologues at http://www.themending.org/index.php.

Derek will be at Westminster March 15th with a V-Men Workshop during the day from 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm  and a presentation of "The Masculine Advocate: Empowering Men to Win the War on Gender Violence" in the evening from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm. Both events will be in the HWAC Special Events Room.

I'll keep you updated on other V-Men events around the corner!

~ Peace and Happiness ~

Stacy

Vagina Warrior Extraordinaire

Continuing the Conversation

We are only a small part of the conversation to stop sexual violence.

One of our goals at V-Day at Westminster is to provide resources that continue the conversations surrounding sexual violence. We're only a small part of what goes on. If you'd like to learn more about what's out there, please visit some of these links to show your support.

Image Source: Rape Recovery Center

The Rape Recovery Center

 www.raperecoverycenter.org

Our beneficiary for nine years, the Rape Recovery Center works to empower those victimized by sexual violence through advocacy, crisis intervention, and therapy and to educate the community about the cause, impact, and prevention of sexual violence. They're a great resource for victims seeking affordable counseling and supporters seeking a more active involvement in stopping sexual violence.

Unified Police Department 

http://updsl.org/divisions/investigations/domesticviolence.html

Salt Lake's Unified Police Department provides legal services to victims of domestic abuse and assault. They also have information about advocacy centers, emergency assistance, financial assistance, and counseling.

Image Source: RAINN

Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN)

www.rainn.org

 RAINN is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. It provides online and caller hotlines, information on sexual violence, and opportunities to get involved. It's especially involved in improving public policy. RAINN representatives have testified in Congress on issues ranging from DNA to sexual assault in the military. They work most intensively to solve the huge backlog of untested DNA evidence in open rape cases. 
  
 

Image Source: Jackson Katz Website

Jackson Katz

www.jacksonkatz.org

www.huffingtonpost.com/jackson-katz

Jackson Katz is one of the leading male anti-sexist activist, speaker, author, filmmaker, and theorist. He's internationally recognized for his work in gender violence education with men and boys. In fact, V-Day at Westminster screened his movie "Tough Guise" on campus last year. His blog at Huffington Post addresses some of these issues and is a great place to learn how men and boys can stop sexual violence. I admire his recent post "What to Say to Boys and Young Men About Big Ben" to be an important point of view when it comes to the Superbowl (Yay Packers!). For those of you who don't know, the Steeler's quarterback Ben "Big Ben" Rothlisberger was accused of sexually assaulting a young woman in a bar last March.

And The Curtain Closes

V-Week and The Vagina Monologues finally end, a bittersweet moment for all

The Westminster section of the Clothesline

For me, finishing The Vagina Monologues is always a mix of feelings.It's relieving to have finished the event, to see the product of your effort completed; and yet, it won't be another year until you experience the V-Week again. But I suppose the fact that V-Week only occurs once a year makes it that more special and impactful.

All the Vagina Warriors would like to thank everyone who came to the show. From Thursday and Friday ticket sales alone, we raised $4,500! Since Saturday also sold out (and then some), we expect our ticket sales to be huge!

Our Healing Tree in the Shaw Center

I'll post pictures from The Vagina Monologues later tonight, but for now I'll leave you with some more pictures from V-Week.


~ Peace and Happiness ~
Stacy
Vagina Warrior Extraordinaire

What's Red, Loud and Exciting?

What's red, loud and exciting?

 V-Week, of course!

A V-Heart in front of the Meldrum Science Center

On Monday morning, students and faculty of Westminster arrived to a red-filled campus. That's because we hosted our annual "Paint the Campus Red" on Sunday the 30th. Our goal was to make sure everyone saw red everywhere they looked. In the past, it's been our most effective publicity technique, making V-Day and The Vagina Monologues very visible on campus. Everything announces: "Pay attention! The Vagina Monologues are at the end of the week and you don't want to miss them!"

Clothesline t-shirts line the stairwell in Jewett

Part of "Paint the Campus Red" also involves hanging the Clothesline Project in the Jewett Performing Arts Center. The 200 shirts create a very impactful display with hundreds of stories of violence exposed to the community. Again, the Clothesline Project aims to share the stories behind the statistics, creating a space for survivors to begin healing from their trauma. You can check out more at www.clotheslineproject.org.

Ben, a V-Man, sells delicious goodies in Shaw

To add to the excitement of V-Week, V-Day and the Student's Honors Council (SHC) host a bake sale in the Shaw Student Center. It's five days of crazy fun filled with red, red and more red.  And, of course, our famous CHOCOLATE VAGINA POPS! I wait every year for them, they're delicious-melt-in-your mouth chocolate. Interestingly enough, they're manufactured by Dream Chocolates in Boise, ID. Who'd have thought that something so scandalous and delicious would come out of such a conservative state? 

We'll see you at the Monologues!

~ Peace and Happiness ~

Stacy

Vagina Warrior Extraordinaire

Keeyah!

 Self-defense can help prevent assault. It's important to know!

So, V-Day at Westminster offered a self-defense class for ladies to refresh their skills in defending from an attacker. Neva, a Vagina Warrior and cast member, led the class.

Who says little women can't fight?

We largely practiced defending against being grabbed by the wrist, dragged by the arms, attacked from behind, and attacked from the front. Then, to round it off, we swung at each other with padded bats! For several minutes we were 12-yr olds again.

Here are the basics of what Neva taught the group:

Rules to Remember:

1. Movies are not reality

2. Physically engaging an assailant can make things much worse

3. Avoid putting yourself in vulnerable situations





De-escalating a situation is often your best defense! You can do this by speaking or acting in ways that prevent things from getting worse. For example, give a robber your money rather than trying to fight or run.

A couple of STRONG Vagina Warriors!

Ways to reduce your risk of assault:

1. Understand your surroundings. Walk or hang out in areas that are open, well-lit and well-traveled.

2. Avoid shortcuts that take you through isolated areas.

3. If you're going out at night, travel in a group.

4. Make sure your friends, roommates,
SOMEONE know your daily schedule.

5. Ask your self if you feel comfortable and safe in a situation where you hang out with other people.

6. Be sure your body language shows a sense of confidence.

7. When riding public transportation, sit near the driver and stay awake.

8. Carry a cell phone if possible.

9. Be willing to report crimes in your neighborhood and school to the police.


Be safe out there ladies and gentlemen!

~ Peace and Happiness ~
Stacy
Vagina Warrior Extraordinaire