The other V-day: PAVE and V-day join forces to end violence

KELSEY CIABATTONI
THE SIGNAL

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, which means the student-led organization People Against Violence Everywhere (PAVE) has once again teamed up with the V-Day organization to help fund the global movement to provide awareness and empowerment toward ending violence against women and girls.

The V-Day organization was established on Valentine’s Day in 1998 by playwright and activist Eve Ensler.  She established V-Day after realizing that her play, “The Vagina Monologues,” which addresses socially sensitive subjects such as women’s sexuality, rape and abuse, could serve as a stepping-stone to lead others to put an end to violence.

As part of the organization’s movement, Ensler allows groups around the world to produce a performance of the play and use the proceeds for individual community projects and programs that are dedicated to its cause.  This year, PAVE, which brings students together from diverse backgrounds to collaborate on educational programs in an effort to raise awareness and end violence, will be putting on a spin-off production of “The Vagina Monologues” titled, “A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant, and A Prayer,” on Friday, Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. in the Bayou Theater.

Also, for the first time at UHCL, the production will feature monologues delivered by both men and women from campus and around the community.   Along with the production, PAVE will be holding fundraisers and events through April, with all proceeds benefitting the campaign to end violence.  Ninety percent of the funds raised by PAVE will benefit the local nonprofit organization, The Bridge Over Troubled Waters, and the remaining 10 percent will go to V-Day to help build safe houses for women in Haiti.

Tickets for the production are $10 and can be purchased from any cast member or at each fundraiser.  For more information on the fundraisers, events and production and how to purchase tickets, contact Melissa Negrete at pave.uhcl@gmail.com or call the Student Life office at 281-283-2560.