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Music and poetry will help fight global violence against women at the V-Benefit Show at Pub 500 Wednesday.
This is the first year for the benefit, which supports "The Vagina Monologues" and raises awareness about violence against women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
"It's going to educate people about the issues and how they affect people across the world," said Lauren Pilnick, a producer for the event and the sexual violence education coordinator at Minnesota State.
Spoken-word performers, musicians and poetry readers will help to inform the public about violence issues. In between acts, people can learn more information about violence on campus and in the Congo.
The V-Benefit Show is sponsored by the Women's Center and Pub 500. Pub 500 will donate $1 for every artichoke-and-spinach dip bought during the event. This is a free all-ages event that is open to the public.
The benefit will help sponsor "The Vagina Monologues" Feb. 19 and 20 at 8 p.m. in Ostrander Auditorium. This year, it has a new cast of 25 women and two new monologues. The goal is to empower women through the knowledge and insight of other stories while bringing awareness about issues of violence against women. This year's spotlight monologue is "A Teenage Girl's Guide to Surviving Sex Slavery."
Pilnick said the women of the Congo are trapped in one of the most deadly conflicts since World War II. It is estimated that more than 500,000 females have been raped and sexually tortured, while almost six million people have been killed and millions more displaced.
All of the money from this event goes to end violence against women in the Congo and for the sexual violence education program at MSU. The females of Congo will receive 10 percent of the proceeds from this event.
This is a V-Day event. V-Day is a global organization that has raised more than $70 million in the last 10 years to end violence against females. The organization establishes safe houses for women across the world, including some in the Congo and one as close as South Dakota. Go to www.vday.org for more information.
"It's really an honor to be part of this movement," Pilnick said.
Justine Johnson, a first-year graduate student at MSU, is a co-producer of "The Vagina Monologues" and organizer of the V-Benefit Show.
"Both the benefit show and the monologues make it comfortable for students and make it relaxing to talk about serious issues while having fun," said Johnson.
The account for this event is funded with money from previous years and is in no way financed with student fees.
Tickets are available online at www.mnsu.edu/wcenter and at the Women's Center in CSU 218.
Elena Shufelt is a Reporter staff writer
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