with tears in their eyes. They said they had no idea the magnitude and severity of the violence-against-women problem. One of them said (and I quote), “You know I wouldn’t have come to this, but I’m very glad I did. This has moved and changed me.” Okay, so maybe he wasn’t sincere, but I’d like to think that he was. They shook my hand and asked me to apologize to the cast for them. THEN
I saw one of them drop a $20 bill in the donation box! It was unreal. There was no protest, no violence, and no heckling. I asked my boyfriend and my three guy friends that were ushering to keep an eye on them. They said that the guys didn’t take their eyes off the stage, that they didn’t talk during the show, and that they didn’t laugh at inappropriate times. Wow! That was only one of the magical stories from last night, but I wanted you to know that it all worked out. Thank you for your words of wisdom (AGAIN!) and all of your advice. Every woman in the cast has made comments like “This is the most important thing I’ve ever been a part of” and “I am a different woman because of this.” Our director was one of the most talented, inspiring women I’ve ever worked with, and our cast (19 beautiful, passionate women) was outstanding. This HAS been the most important thing I’ve ever done. I am a changed woman. We are wise, VAGINA-talking women and men! What we’ve done will be remembered. It is important and you
have to know that people are going to be more conscious of these issues because of what we’ve done.
I’m proud to BE MY VAGINA.
—Jenn, Washington University, St. Louis
[To her fellow College Initiative participants] A new term is flying around the UT
Knoxville campus—
“vagina envy”—everyone wants one! The response was AWESOME to our Monday night show! The
audience beat us to our feet to take our bows—the standing ovation was that intense!
What I thought
was most incredible was the number of men in the house—they must have been more than 1/3 of the almost 500 people that came. I expected a gigantic gathering of women and to my absolute delight, the guys came out to support vaginas with great respect and gusto! I’ve been weeping for two days over the e-mail and my knees are weak from the healing power that was spread across the world because of V-Day! Buckets of thanks to everyone! What hit me like a ton of bricks in the afterglow of our awesome evening was—what do I do TODAY to end the violence? I think it’s essential that we ride the momentum we have begun. I’m looking into volunteering for our local rape crisis hotline.
Any other ideas
from you all? Let’s keep the movement rollin! VIVE VAGINAS!
—Linda, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
The Vagina Monologues “played Peoria” with a crowd of almost two hundred (which for conservative Bradley University was impressive). It was amazing and awe-inspiring and we almost keeled over when they stood clapping for five minutes. Today we are all exhausted and proud. How inspiring to spend Valentine’s Day on a small quest to save the world. :) —Vanessa, Bradley University
I don’t think my life, or the lives of any of the women who worked on this show, will ever be the same again. I also really enjoyed being connected to the other people around the country/world who were going through many of the same processes as we were. It was very encouraging and helpful to know that there was always a network of very passionate, knowledgeable women and men out there who were willing to listen (see) and respond when there were problems and when there was cause for celebration. I feel as though I have been a part of a truly amazing and powerful force. We are on our way to ending the violence that we have endured for far too long! That feels damn good!
—Keri, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
This was a great example of working as a community, not just here in the campus, but within the initiative around the world. The amount of
I saw one of them drop a $20 bill in the donation box! It was unreal. There was no protest, no violence, and no heckling. I asked my boyfriend and my three guy friends that were ushering to keep an eye on them. They said that the guys didn’t take their eyes off the stage, that they didn’t talk during the show, and that they didn’t laugh at inappropriate times. Wow! That was only one of the magical stories from last night, but I wanted you to know that it all worked out. Thank you for your words of wisdom (AGAIN!) and all of your advice. Every woman in the cast has made comments like “This is the most important thing I’ve ever been a part of” and “I am a different woman because of this.” Our director was one of the most talented, inspiring women I’ve ever worked with, and our cast (19 beautiful, passionate women) was outstanding. This HAS been the most important thing I’ve ever done. I am a changed woman. We are wise, VAGINA-talking women and men! What we’ve done will be remembered. It is important and you
have to know that people are going to be more conscious of these issues because of what we’ve done.
I’m proud to BE MY VAGINA.
—Jenn, Washington University, St. Louis
[To her fellow College Initiative participants] A new term is flying around the UT
Knoxville campus—
“vagina envy”—everyone wants one! The response was AWESOME to our Monday night show! The
audience beat us to our feet to take our bows—the standing ovation was that intense!
What I thought
was most incredible was the number of men in the house—they must have been more than 1/3 of the almost 500 people that came. I expected a gigantic gathering of women and to my absolute delight, the guys came out to support vaginas with great respect and gusto! I’ve been weeping for two days over the e-mail and my knees are weak from the healing power that was spread across the world because of V-Day! Buckets of thanks to everyone! What hit me like a ton of bricks in the afterglow of our awesome evening was—what do I do TODAY to end the violence? I think it’s essential that we ride the momentum we have begun. I’m looking into volunteering for our local rape crisis hotline.
Any other ideas
from you all? Let’s keep the movement rollin! VIVE VAGINAS!
—Linda, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
The Vagina Monologues “played Peoria” with a crowd of almost two hundred (which for conservative Bradley University was impressive). It was amazing and awe-inspiring and we almost keeled over when they stood clapping for five minutes. Today we are all exhausted and proud. How inspiring to spend Valentine’s Day on a small quest to save the world. :) —Vanessa, Bradley University
I don’t think my life, or the lives of any of the women who worked on this show, will ever be the same again. I also really enjoyed being connected to the other people around the country/world who were going through many of the same processes as we were. It was very encouraging and helpful to know that there was always a network of very passionate, knowledgeable women and men out there who were willing to listen (see) and respond when there were problems and when there was cause for celebration. I feel as though I have been a part of a truly amazing and powerful force. We are on our way to ending the violence that we have endured for far too long! That feels damn good!
—Keri, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
This was a great example of working as a community, not just here in the campus, but within the initiative around the world. The amount of
Similar Books
