Equal Sex Prepares for V-Day Event

By: Hilary Lawch

This month, Hood’s Equal Sex organization will put on two productions of “A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant, and A Prayer” as part of the V-Day campaign.

The V-Day campaign, which is recognized and participated in by colleges and other organizations all over the globe, is a global activist movement which aims to end violence against women all over the world. The event not only raises awareness, but also raises money for organizations who deal with this social issue, like the Heartly House inFrederick.

The past two years, Equal Sex put on productions of “The Vagina Monologues,” one of the most well-known performances associated with the V-Day campaign.

This year, Equal Sex will produce “A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant, and a Prayer,” another V-Day production. This production differs from “The Vagina Monologues” in that it includes pieces written and performed by men.

Olivia Wolz, current president of Equal Sex and event coordinator for V-Day, is excited about the new performance.

“I am so happy to be doing something that is just so powerful,” Wolz said. “Readingabout performances all over the globe and seeing progress that has been made in people’s lives because of the creativity of others is really special to watch.”

Senior Lindsay Cogdill, former president of Equal Sex and event coordinator for V-Day, for the past two years has high hopes for the event.

“I hope to bring more awareness of the violence that women face both inAmericaand around the world to Hood students by producing and participating in this event,” Cogdill said. “I also hope to raise more money than we raised last year. Last year we raised over 2,000 dollars.”

For Cogdill, who is acting as a mentor this year as well as a member of the cast, the experience is also an emotional one.

“A large part of the V-Day mission is to allow women to speak out about their experiences,” Cogdill said. “My monologue ends on a note of victory and hope, and that is the message that I hope everyone will take from V-Day at Hood: we can end violence against women by refusing to remain silent about it and by coming together to protect and educate ourselves and each other.”

The play will be showing on Feb. 24 and 25 at 8 p.m. in Hodson Auditorium. Tickets are free for Hood students, faculty, and staff and five dollars for the public.

Donations are accepted, and all proceeds go to the Heartly House and V-Day’s charity that supports their spotlight country ofHaiti.