TAMIU Hosts "Vagina Monologues" Performance Feb. 13-15

For the first time in history, Texas A&M International University will host the world-famous "Vagina Monologues," a play by Eve Ensler designed to bring awareness to violence against women.

Organized mostly by students, and performed by locally scouted actors, the play will be featured Feb. 13 -15 at the Fine and Performing Arts Recital Hall. The shows will be held in English on Feb. 13 and Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. and in Spanish on Feb. 15 at 3 p.m.

Viky García, one of the event's main organizers, said "Vagina Monologues" presents poignant snippets of the lives of real women interviewed by Ensler and that they are a celebration of womanhood in all its forms delivered with humor. The play, which has been shown in more than 1,500 schools worldwide, forms part of the V-Day movement, observed across the world during the month of February.

V-Day is a global movement to stop violence against women and girls and promotes creative events to increase awareness, raise money, and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations.

"In this region, violence against women as a topic is frequently on people's lips. We hear it from the numerous coalitions and law enforcement agencies, social service programs, the media and so on and so on," García said, "But today, we are hearing it in the form of positive action from the future leaders of this community - students."

The focus of this year's collective V-Day efforts are the missing and murdered women of Ciudad, Juárez, Mexico, and 10 percent of proceeds will be going to the investigation of the murders.

Tickets for the performance will be $10 per person or $5 for students with ID and all proceeds will benefit local non-profit organizations fighting violence against women. Tickets may be obtained by calling García at 326-2142 or Lorena Martínez at 645-4430.

For further information, please contact García at 326-2142 or Lorena Martínez at 645-4430. Information may also be obtained by writing to vday_tamiu@yahoo.com.