While many students are counting their candy hearts and admirers, others are grumbling about the holiday created by greeting card companies. However, some students are stepping up to make a difference through a ten-year-old tradition known as V-day, an anti-violence movement that is the offspring of The Vagina Monologues.
"Valentine's Day is about a lot of love going around the world, but let's take a look at the opposite end of the spectrum," said Rajavi Parikh, a senior women's health major and co-organizer of this year's V-day movement.
V-day began as an outgrowth of Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues. Traveling the continent performing her show, Ensler realized the hardships women faced as a result of violence. V-day became a day for stopping violence around the world, including rape, incest, battery, genital mutilation, and sexual slavery, according to Christina Liang, a senior English and psychology major and V-day co-organizer.
"There's 27,000 people on this campus and yet violence against women has become the invisible problem," Parikh said. "People think it's already happened and now it's over but violence is still happening in silence."
This year not only marks the 10th anniversary of The Vagina Monologues (TVM), but also a visit from a very special guest: Ensler is set to speak on March 5 at Woldman Theatre at 7:30 p.m.
TVM sheds light on sensitive women's issues, sometimes in a very comedic manner, Liang said.
Michele Park, a junior English major, said curiosity about TVM provoked her to participate, but the anti-violence movement has become her main interest.
"On a college campus especially, I think students are in such a bubble that they forget these things are happening," Park said. "V-day is really an empowering event and a great way to educate students."
According to Park, the V-day movement has spread to residence hall programs, causing a major boost in participation.
"We have a lot of talent coming out this year," Liang said. "I think it has much to do with their curiosity and passion for the subject at hand."
Participation in V-day activities is not limited to females, especially in light of a new addition. A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant, and a Prayer is a compilation of skits to be performed by men and women on March 28 in Goodyear Hall at 8 p.m.
"Not everyone gets love and I think the V-day movement brings awareness to unnecessary violence," said Marcos Owens, a freshman business major.
Terrence Prince, a junior communication major, also supports the V-day objective because he has seen the effects of violence firsthand.
"I used to live very near to a home for battered women," Prince said. "It upsets me to think that a man would hit a woman because I never would."
According to Liang, proceeds from TVM will help to fund the fight against violence by way of Crisis Services and The International Institute in Buffalo.
Students can contribute to the fight against violence by viewing the play on March 26 at Goodyear Hall on South Campus, or March 27 at Norton Theatre on North Campus. Both shows begin at 8 p.m. and admission is $10.
"TVM is about embracing women and their bodies for what they are," Liang said. "If students are educated and aware of violence against women, they have the opportunity to change it. We won't stop until the violence stops."
