Written By: Abbie Baggerly

Women’s and Gender Studies will be presenting “A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant and a Prayer” March 6-8 at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Theater.

“A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant and a Prayer” is a groundbreaking collection of monologues by world-renowned authors and playwrights.  VSU students will perform the monologues to raise awareness about domestic violence.

“These diverse voices rise up in a collective roar to break open, expose and examine the insidiousness of violence at all levels: brutality, neglect, a punch, even a put-down,” said Kaylan Hand, director of VSU’s V-day, a group committed to ending violence against women and girls.

Offering a cross-cultural perspective, this performance demonstrates how both men and women can be victims of domestic violence.

“We want to change people’s perspectives so that we may one day be able to change the world’s view on domestic violence,” Hand said.

The performance is a charity event designed to help women in and around our community overcome their own situations and start a new life.

All proceeds from the performance will be donated: 10% will go toward V-Day’s 1 Billion Rising for Justice Campaign, and 90% will be donated to The Haven, a local shelter for battered women, and VSU’s Women’s and Gender Studies Sexual Assault Program.

Tickets for the performance will be $5 with a student ID and $10 for general admission.  They can be purchased at the Women’s and Gender Studies building, and only cash is accepted.

“We all have to rise up in order to see a change in this issue,” Hand said. “So many want to believe that domestic violence doesn’t happen and won’t do anything about it, or that it doesn’t affect men, but it does.”