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mm • connnuED PRom 9 it means to them, what it smells like, why it’s angry and how it feels. “[Ensler] really puts out there what a lot of people talk about privately,” said Melissa Lee, the fourth-year women’s studies student who is directing the play this year. “It has the power to change women’s lives in that they know they’re not alone.” “The Vagina Monologues” started when Eve Ensler,-the book’s author, went out and began interviewing women about rape, violence and their sexual experiences. The resulting stories were then compiled and performed for the purpose of raising awareness and money for the cause of the prevention of violence against women. “All of the proceeds are going to be donated to the rape crisis center,” Lee said. It is a play designed to raise awareness about violence against women. One of the requisites for people performing the play worldwide is that it must be nonprofit; all proceeds from its performance anywhere must be donated to organizations working to end violence against women. But to many people the play is much more than that. “It’s a celebration of women,” said Chenwei Zhang, a first-year political science student, who is volunteering in this year’s production. “I think it’s empowering.” The open discussion of what is usually considered to be an extremely personal - subject is considered liberating by many women. “I like my vagina,” said Zhang. But many people are strongly opposed to the play, saying that it’s crude and unethical, and that the play’s content is offensive. “It’s in society; it’s everywhere; it’s sex, sex, sex, sex, sex. This isn’t even about sex. This is about embracing something that makes you special,” said first-year anthropology student Margaret McWhorter, who will also be in the play. The average man is not only subject to the general social stigma around the subject, but also the inability to relate to it on a more practical level. Lee believes there is still a reason for men to attend the event. “Not only will they get a kick out of it, but it promotes that understanding that should be there,” she said. • Today the play’s organizers will be holding a Vagina Carnival in front of the Russell House to promote the play. The event will feature a baked goods sale, which includes vagina shaped cookies and T-shirts from last year’s performance. Such open display of female sexuality, both in the carnival and the “Monologues” themselves, is sure to make some people uncomfortable, but alienation isn’t the intent of those involved. “It’s about connecting with people on a subject which everyone thinks about but no one talks about,” Lee said. “The Vagina Monologues” will be running March 23-25, at the Law School Auditorium, with shows every night at 8 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door and cost $8 for students and $10 for the general public. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfeatures @gwm. sc. eclu evoe • conTinucDPRoing pop hit and ‘Please Don’t Let Me Go’, my favorite one.” Each band is slated for 15 minutes, which is enough time to play three of four songs. In order to get into the competition they each had to submit a demo of the musician they wanted to cover, or their own stuff, along with a standard application for review. The Carolina Productions staff then sifted through the eight entries to decide which five would make it. “We had a smaller selection, but it was one of the most musically talented groups we’ve had,” Kempson said. “We had to debate for a while on who we really wanted.” There were no guidelines for the auditions; each band could play whomever they wished. Each was told that all songs performed must be covers by the same artist. CP did ask that each band refrain from cursing in their performances. The line-up features five local bands, some with students from USC. They are The Silver Screen, covering Rage Against The Machine; Eleven After, covering Jimmy Eat World; All Good Citizens, covering The Beastie Boys; Essential to the Soul, covering Mary J. Blige and Shallow Palace who is covering The White Stripes. The event will take place at 8 p.m. in the Russell House Ballroom. Admission is free. The first-place winner receives a $500 Best Buy gift card, second place will get a $200 gift card and third will get a.$100 gift card. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfeatures@gwm. sc. edu nun • conTinuED PRomg Alan Stark and Tom Regal will present the newly restored “Master Hands” (1936). Jan-Christopher Horak will screen the new George Eastman House restoration “Eyes of Science” (1930). George Eastman House, UCLA and NYU are the only three master’s degree programs in the United States that offer studies in film preservation. All three schools send students to the Orphan Film Symposium. The symposium will wrap up Saturday with final screenings at 8 p.m. These include Geoff Alexander’s “Protein Synthesis: An Epic on the Cellular Level” (1971) and Carolyn Faber’s “For the Record” (2004). The final screenings will also feature other events to be announced. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfeatures @gwm. sc. edu HELLO • COflTinueD FROITI9 house in the mountains and a house in Australia.” WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ANIMAL? “A white tiger, because they’re pretty and they have blue eyes.” WHY DID YOU CHOOSE use? “It’s warm and they gave me lots of money.” WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOR AND WHY? “Purple, because I’m allergic and it gives me headaches.” WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CLASS? “Advertising, because it is my major and I think it is more applicable than most of my other classes.’” IF YOU COULD BE A SUPERHERO, WHAT WOULD YOUR NAME BE AND WHAT POWERS WOULD YOU HAVE?1 “I’d be Queen of the Universe, and I would be able to be anywhere at the snap of my fingers.” j WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST FEAR? “A giant purple room full of cats feeding me peanuts.” WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FOOD? “The two Ch’s: chocolate and cheese, because they make my life joyful.” WHO HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE PROFESSOR? “Professor Simmons because t | he always gives good anecdotes.” WHAT DO YOU WANT EVERYONE WHO’S READING THIS TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? “My birthday is June fifth, so everyone should send me a card.” —Jaren Hayes -1 » Solutions L 1 E I A I^WXTTTfXlTBTrD 1 N 1 A I s AiLAAAAAA^lAAAA A UNiiNK E AJiAAA A D p a !. a AABBlAAA e 3M HHIa n clog sB|k e y SOB eTrIih' are ml ace ajiaxICaaaOEaaa w aa^Baaaa|BaI^ k u m s o i Mm y d r aJt Tl ■■■A _r_A A^JM(aA A A AA * M I N 0 A NljP I N N A C L E AAAorWau RAA AAAA aaaaIHaaaaMaaaa s1e|n1s1eBb|e|a[tBs|o|s[o II :%WW»SG9SC9ED | Tbe newly elcted officers look forward to serving you tbis year. Please feel free to contact tbexn if tbey can ever be of assistance to you. | President, Tommy Preston, Jr. — 777-3851 Vice President, Ryan Holt — 777-5065 Treasurer, Jennifer Guest — 777.3857 y Have any issues that need to be taken to Congress? Let us know. USC's first Congressional Advisory Board will Phe taking a trip to Washington DC on April 2. Their mis sion is to voice concerns of the students here at USC, to South Carolina's elected officials in the National Govern I ment. Email all concerns and comments top ^ cah@gwm.sc.edu || Student Senate has vacant seats that need to he filled hy ambitious and hardworking students. Come by the so . i office and pick up an application. The vacant seats are as follows: HRSM (2)j Social Work (1), Business (1), Educa I (1), Engineering (2), Med (2), Nurs (1), Public Health Would you like to he an advocate for USC? Are you passionate about issues that affect your University? Well here’s your chance. The Carolina Alumni Association will he sponsoring their annual Caro ls lina Action Network (CAN) Day, which will he taking place on March 28th, |J starting at 9:30am. It's a day that students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the University go around the Statehouse and talk with their legislators about H|* issues that affect this great University!!! For more information or to register for JrjLthisevent visit www.carolinaalumni.org/advocacy and get involved.