WATERLOO -- When people think of V-Day, they probably think of "The Vagina Monologues."

The play, written and first performed by Eve Ensler, started the V-Day movement to raise awareness and funds dedicated to ending violence against women and girls around the world.

That is also how University of Northern Iowa sophomore Jessica Lieb got involved with UNI's V-Day committee. Last year, she auditioned for a role in "The Vagina Monologues" and found herself fascinated by the issues affecting women, especially those in developing countries.

"As a woman, I have a personal connection with it - feeling that sort of kinship with these women, and wanting to do something to improve their lives," Lieb said.

But V-Day is more than just a play. Especially this year at UNI, V-Day is an entire month of programming dealing with women's issues and raising money for Violence Prevention Services.

"In the past, V-Day originally had a week of events, and we expanded that into a month of events," said UNI senior and campus V-Day organizer Kaitlin Korbitz. "Hopefully we can spark some interest."

This year, Korbitz and Lieb join several other UNI students on the V-Day committee, which has put on several programs on campus this month. Lieb is coordinating the artwork auction, which will take place before and after the two performances of "The Vagina Monologues" at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the Bertha Martin Theatre at UNI. She is also in charge of Vagina Warriors, a recognition program whereby individuals in the community are nominated for their work supporting women's rights.

"This has sort of been a big year, because we're just working to get as many things in as possible," Lieb said.

Now in its 10th year, V-Day is a worldwide movement and charity supporting programs that help to end violence against women and girls, according to the Web site www.VDay.org. Through its supporting networks, the organization has raised more than $50 million.

The UNI network has already put on several programs to raise awareness of women's issues more than just funds. So far this month, the group has held a self-defense seminar, brought in a guest speaker, talked about body image and set up information tables as part of "Vulvapalooza."

New this year will be a V-Day benefit at The Reverb Thursday, with 3 Lbs. of Love and other bands raising money for the group; a poetry slam Wednesday night in Maucker Union; and a new Eve Ensler play, "A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant and a Prayer," which will be performed Feb. 29-March 1.

"We just want women's issues in the forefront of people's minds everywhere," Korbitz said.

Contact Amie Steffen at

(319) 291-1464 or

amie.steffen@wcfcourier.com.