Flashback!

Looking back on it, I think one of the most (if not THE most) pivotal events of my college career has been my involvement with the Vagina Monologues. I know that I've written enough about that play to rival the most seasoned of critics. But I believe and know that this is one of the biggest and most influential things I have done.

Through the play, first and foremost, I met an amazing array of women and men who astonished me with their dedication and spirit. They came from all walks of life and all backgrounds, but they all had the common goal of acting to stop violence against women. These were students, graduate students, community members, and faculty. They came from all over with the same goal in mind, and nothing would stop them from putting on the best play and showing that we meant business about ending violence. Nicolette, the director for the past two years, put her whole heart and soul into it and worked tirelessly (even to the point of getting sick at the end) to make sure the actresses were doing their best and were getting along as well. Megan and Ashley, my first directors, took the initiative of getting the community involved and organizing the benefit concerts. Some of the actresses were pros--Brittany, Remy, Tricia, and Cat were in Inner Voices and wowed us with their natural ease in each part. Some were amateurs--Laura, Sara, Janelle, Rhonda, and me--and shocked us all by how well they carried each role. Some of us were new to activism, some were seasoned pros. But we all had the same goal and a fantastic way to carry it out

The second door the play opened was to my job/internship and passion. My lovely RCS is the recipient of the funds from the monologues each year. Now, before freshman year, I knew what centers like RCS and La Casa were, but I couldn't tell you what went on in there and I certainly would never have expected to WORK at one! When the staff from RCS came to speak with us about their mission, I was hooked. It sure didn't hurt that the director of advocacy was a monologist herself! I knew I had to learn more about them, and that spring, I volunteered at their art exhibit, Healing Works. But it wasn't enough. I had to get into the action, and I filled out the application for the advocacy program and busied myself that summer on the social committee at La Casa. Then fall hit, and I passed the advocacy training with flying colors! I staffed support groups and special events. I worked the hotline and medical shifts. I helped lead the chants at Take Back the Night, and just today, I won an Outstanding Advocate award for my work there! This summer I have an internship in intervention, and it thrills me to think of it. It is not the most glamorous or sought-after job, but it's something I love and am passionate about. And had it not been for the monologues, I would not have been in it.

The third door the monologues opened was to my Feminist Majority. Now I have been a feminist since the age of six, but it actually took a while to get me in a feminist organization on campus. The only one I knew of was NOW, and while I like and respect NOW, they met at an inconvenient time for me. I knew of the national Fem Maj, but I didn't know there was a campus organization. When it was March in freshman year, I heard of an event called Sex Out Loud that was calling for the actresses to perform. I signed up to do so, and while I didn't get to perform (the other grls in my list piece couldn't make it), I went to the fair anyway. I was hooked and ABSOLUTELY HAD to join the organization that threw this lovely event! Through a little determination and a hell of a lot of hard work, I became the president and saw myself putting on the best Sex Out Loud fair I had ever seen! The best part was that some of the people from Fem Maj joined after seeing me in the monologues. Next year I will be treasurer and am ready to throw as grand of an event as this past year.

The fourth one was my campus connections. I became the team leader of the anti-rape fraternity group, FPREP (Fraternity Peer Rape Education and Prevention), because Ross recognized all the hard work I'd put into women's causes. My team members are now CARE facilitators or advocates, and they got fired up for the cause! I met Pat, the assistant dean, because she performed "Reclaiming Peace" last year. She came to many Fem Maj events after that and participated in our reproductive rights panel. This past winter, she invited me onto the committee that oversees all the multicultural houses on Nevada Street.

And last of all, the play helped me to completely conquer my shyness. I think I was pretty outgoing when I came to college, but something about asking "What does a vagina smell like?" to hundreds of people really helped me to kick that shyness to the curb and tell it never to return! Now I am an ultra-extrovert and am incredibly comfortable with any kind of crowd.

While I think the learning process is lifelong, the play has really opened up tons of doors to me that I would not have considered otherwise. I can't wait till next year's, even though it's almost a year away.