By Joey Yazell–

RIGHT: “One Billion Rising,” is cordinated on campus by the PEACC program and V-day. Studets and members of Louisville’s community will be putting on multiple events to raise awareness of V-Day and the fight to end Violence against women.

“This show has a purpose and depth. It’s not anti-men and all pro-women. It’s information that all people need to know” said Barbara O’ Daniel.

The production not only discusses violence towards women by women and men but about different perspectives women have towards each other and themselves. It’s a mixture of femininity and anti-violence.  During an interview with a participant in the play, Alee Meredith said, “it really helped me discover myself, as a woman and as an individual. It helped me see that my place in this world does matter.”

V-day is a global awareness and action oriented program that brings the atrocities and truths about violence towards women and girls. This movement started  running full force in 1998 and has been raising awareness around the world through art, film, word of mouth and other creative works providing funds for other local programs that also strive to end violence against women. With these campaigns going on in over 140 countries and raising over $80 million, V-day has reached over 300 million people and counting. V-day 2013 is the 15th anniversary as a global organization. The theme for this year is “One Billion Rising.” According to the United Nations, one billion women in their life time will experience violence, which is one out of every three women. The response is for one billion women and men to stand against the violence.

The PEACC program has worked very hard to organize this year’s week of events. There is a lot to participate in throughout the week and even a couple surprises. A video has also been made here at UofL titled “Why I Rise” that can be found on YouTube.

“This is why the PEACC program is here, we want people to have healthy, loving relationships that are free of violence and fear,” said Sally Evans, PEACC Program Coordinator.

Tickets for “The Vagina Monologues” can be purchased online at uoflvday2013.eventbrite.com or at the door, $8 for UofL students with an ID and $10 for the public. Credit and debit cards cannot be accepted at the door.

Feb. 11, noon, Swain Student Activities Center (SAC), “Going on Strike.” Join a drum circle featuring music by the UofL Percussion Ensemble in a show of support to end violence against women.

Feb. 12, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., SAC, second floor, “Women & Incarceration Project.”  Write a letter, donate and learn how to help battered, incarcerated women.

Feb. 13, noon, Cultural Center, “Let’s Talk Lunch: Violence in the Global Community.”  Panel discussion on the “One Billion Rising” initiative.

Feb. 14-16, 7 p.m. each evening, The Playhouse presents “The Vagina Monologues.” Students and guest actresses will perform the play. Guest actresses include Leesa Mitchell  of WAKY (Feb. 14), Kaila Story, the Audre Lorde Chair in Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality Studies at UofL and host of “Strange Fruit,” a podcast on WFPL (Feb. 15), and  Angie Fenton, managing editor of The Voice-Tribune and entertainment correspondent for WHAS 11’s “Great Day Live!” (Feb. 16).  Admission is $8 for college students with ID and $10 for all others.  Purchase tickets online at uoflvday2013.eventbrite.com or at the door with cash or check.

Feb. 15, 9 p.m., Community Park, “Talk Back.” The Men of PEACC group will host a session for men to support the V-Day messages and initiatives.

For more information, call 502-852-2663 or e-mail [email protected]. To learn more about the global V-Day effort, visit vday.org/home.

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Photo courtesy of PEACC/The Louisville Cardinal