Each year, women on Carleton’s campus raise awareness for gender-based violence by coming together to talk about their vaginas.
This year is no different. The campus group Vaginas Against Violence is set to put on their annual production, “The Vagina Monologues,” in mid-March.
But one thing has changed. In the past, the group received full funding from the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA)’s financial assistance committee for clubs & societies (FACCS).
This year, that won’t be the case since they were denied their FACCS money.
The non-profit club operates on a volunteer basis, fundraising for important causes. This year, their show’s proceeds are going to the Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre and the international V-Day campaign, which supports victims of sexual violence in Haiti, according to the show’s co-director Polly Leger.
But with the group’s current finances, producing their popular play will be difficult.
Around $105,000 was distributed among Carleton’s different clubs and societies this year, according to CUSA vice-president (finance) Karim Khamisa. Why can’t FACCS find money for this one too?
Not only is “The Vagina Monologues” a play many students look forward to year after year, it’s more than a play. It fosters discourse about important issues like consent, violence, body image and sexuality.
In light of the four sexual assaults reported on Carleton’s campus this year, for CUSA to strip this particular club of their funding seems contradictory to the cause so many students have been fighting for.
Vaginas Against Violence shouldn’t be left out.
