Thursday, February 13, 2003

by Jennifer Canton
Gazette Reporter

This year’s Vagina Monologues was originally conceived as a fun way for the
women’s rugby team to spend more time together. “We were sitting around,
trying to think of cool activities to do as a group when we all realized we
had a common interest in the Vagina Monologues,” said Joanne Jacobsen 03′
who acts as stage manager. Although the rugby’s team affiliation with the
project had to end due to lack of funds, the group of students involved
decided to work with the Drama Board, opening up a greater pool of talent
through all campus auditions.

The experiences with the auditions alleviated initial concern over
producing the monologues for a second year in a row. Jacobsen stated that
once the auditions were underway “We just got excited…People were
passionate and the actresses we chose were very good. It’s the kind of play
that’s different every time because there’s so much to it.”

Director Eliza Cava 06′ who has seen past performances both memorized and
read from the Eve Ensler’s script decided to “think of the play more as
women on stage telling stories” rather than actresses inhabiting roles.
Cava went on the say that the stage cards being used by the actresses are a
way to tell those stories.

In exchange for not having to pay royalties on the script, the Vagina
Monologues cast and crew signed up to join the 2003 V-Day College Campaign.
One of the mandates of the campaign was the inclusion of two new
monologues; these were written by two workshops, one comprised by women and
one by men, in which the premise was the envision a world without violence
against women.

Also part of the campaign and social movement of V-Day, was for each
college to chose an organization that actively tries to stop violence
against women and bring it to the attention of the campus. The group chose
the Women’s Law Project, a non-profit Philadelphia organization that
provides free legal aid and advice to women in need. Their work includes
domestic abuse and custody cases, how to obtain a restraining order, and
simply letting women know what their rights and options are.

Although the campaign began last weekend with a Student Art Association
hosted Nude Drawing class, it will be continuing throughout the week with a
Thursday night discussion about the Women’s Law Project, a Sexual Health
Counselors workshop of female sexuality, a female masturbation workshop,
and an information session led by Worth nurse Linda Echols. Tabling at
Sharples with V-Day products, such as chocolate and soap vaginas, V-Day
tank tops and magnetic poetry, will start on Wednesday.

The Vagina Monologues will be performed on Feb. 14-16.

*****

by Sanggee Kim
Gazette Reporter

Did you know that the Weekly News has published 452 editions since Marsha
Nishi Mullan took over as editor?

For 26 years, the Office of News and Information has faithfully produced
the Weekly News every week that school has been in session at Swarthmore
College. First initiated by former Public Relations Director Larner
Shurkin, the Weekly News serves as a vehicle of communication that informs
the campus about the multiple on-campus activities each week. The
publication also includes the latest press releases from the Office as well
as the popular listings of fellowships and prizes, available jobs, and
offered services.

* UN Officials delivered a report to chief weapons inspector Hans Blix on
Wednesday saying that Iraq’s Al Samoud 2 missile travels more than the 150
kilometers allowed by the UN. UNMOVIC had previously said that the Al
Samoud 2 missile traveled beyond the permitted range in 13 of 40 tests.
Iraq was then told to stop testing of the missile pending the UN report.
Also on Wednesday, CIA Director George Tenet testified at a Senate
committee hearing that North Korea has ballistic missiles capable of
reaching the western coast of the United States. However, Defense
Intelligence Agency Director Vice Admiral Lowell Jacoby said that the
missile has not been flight tested, so it is unknown whether it could, in
actuality, travel such a distance.

* In testimony before the House International Relations Committee on
Wednesday, Secretary of State Colin Powell contended that the poison found
in the break-up of a terrorist plot in London came from Iraq. However,
European officials immediately disputed the claim. According to CNN.com, a
French intelligence official commented, “There is no, repeat, no suggestion
that the ricin was anything but locally produced. It was bad quality, not
technically sophisticated.” The source also said that British authorities
are certain that the poison was “homemade.”

* Officials in charge of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race have approved a
change in the competition’s course for the first time since its inception
in 1973. Unusually warm temperatures have resulted in large areas of
terrain without snow cover and a few impassable rivers. The official start
is still set for March 1st in Anchorage, but after going only 11 miles
racers will pack up and drive 350 miles north to Fairbanks to start again
on March 3rd. Officials remarked that the new course is actually closer to
the original route used to deliver diphtheria serum to the town of Nome in
1925, which was the inspiration for the race.

*****

“Are Your Headaches Giving You a Headache?”
Lecture by Geri Cole
Parrish Commons, 12:00 pm

“Where is God? Transcendence vs. Immanence in the Hebrew Bible”
Lecture by Dr. S. Tamar Kamionkowski
The Beit Midrash Midrash (Lodge 5, attatched to Bond Hall), 7:30 pm

“I Eat Your Skin/ I Drink Your Blood”
Sponsored by The Anomalous Picture Show
Trotter 203, 7:30 pm

“Roots That Know: Andean Wisdom and Western Science’s Approached to Out
Understanding the Earth”
Lecture by Antonio Melis
Kohlberg 115, 4:15 pm

Fellini Film Festival, “Satyricon”
LPAC Cinema, 8:00 pm

“PureSlam” Poetry Slam
Sponsored by Mjumbe, Ourstory, and SASS
Upper Tarble, 8:00 pm

—————
Chocolate! Chocolate! Chocolate!

“The Vagina Monologues” is fundraising for the Women’s Law Project.
Adrienne Fowler ’03, Sara Cole ’03, and Elizabeth Brainard ’03 will talk
about their work with the Women’s Law Project today at 7:30 in Parrish
Parlors. Hot chocolate, chocolate cookies, brownies, and chocolate crumb
cake will be served.

*****

SPORTS UPDATE

The Garnet defeated Johns Hopkins 71-50. Matt Gustafson and David Pearce
scored a combined 49 points.

Triple winners Lillvis, Mike Dudley, and David Whitehead led the Garnet to
a 139-60 victory over the Shoremen.

The Garnet fell to Washington 110-95 in yesterday’s competition. Leah Davis
and Tara Trout were double winners.

Today: Women’s Basketball hosts Johns Hopkins, 7:00 pm

Tomorrow: No contests scheduled for tomorrow

*****

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“The reason lightening doesn’t strike twice in the same place is that the
same place isn’t there the second time.”
–Willie Tyler

*****
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