Six students auditioned for roles in the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance’s version of Eve Ensler’s play The Vagina Monologues on Tuesday in the Liberal Arts building.
The monologues deal with gaining acceptance of one’s own body and becoming aware of one’s own female empowerment.
Jonathan Mota, English major and Adela Momya, sociology major, will direct the monologues.
The Vagina Monologues will be performed on Feb. 28 and Mar. 1 in the Teleconference Center from 6 p.m.-9 p.m.
Those who auditioned, like Yuri Martinez, sociology major, said that she was excited and nervous but also glad that she came to audition.
She said that during her performance she thought she did okay. She had heard about the auditions when she saw a sign against the wall of the Social Science Building.
Vivian Sepulveda, sociology major, and Perla Madita, social welfare major, also said they heard about the auditions the same way.
Sepulveda said that the dialogue, despite the explicit content of the monologue, was very empowering because it gave women the chance to talk about a part of the body that hasn’t been talked about before.
Martinez agreed.
“Having a feminist club is something that wouldn’t be allowed in my high school before,” she said, “and it’s different when you are in college. What the FMLA is doing is great because (the club) is making women aware of important issues.”
Sepulveda said that now that she is aware of a club like the FMLA she will come back and will be more involved and help out in any way she can.
Afterward, Tracy Garcia, undecided major and FMLA member said that those who performed did a good job and that all of them got through it.
Garcia said that the reason why it is important to have the performance of the monologues is so that women can be secure about their bodies.
“The Vagina Monologues will hopefully give women the opportunity to accept themselves,” she said “and be proud to have a vagina.”
FMLA adviser Barbara Mueller said that a topic like talking about vaginas was comfortable for those who auditioned.
However, Sepulveda said that Momya’s performance was the one that was eye opening. “She was really, really into it,” she commented, “and it was also inspiration because she was in character.”
Those who attended the auditions like Reggie West, history major, he said that he had no problem with the explicit content.
“It was interesting and intriguing at the same time,” he said, “but it was also interesting because it I think it’s important to have an open mind. West said that more students should find out more about FMLA itself as well, and that includes men.
“I would say to those men who are not interested in FMLA it is only because they are too macho,” he explained, “and it should be about having an open mind about issues. If that happens there will be more acceptance and less violence within society.”
