University of Central Oklahoma campaign seeks to raise awareness about violence against women

UCO's Women's Outreach Center and the student group Women of Many Ethnic Nationalities are hosting V-Week, a campaign that seeks to end sexual violence and crimes against women.

The event is a part of an international campaign that aims to shine a light on crimes that often go unnoticed and are ignored in certain parts of the world, said Tess Bromme, student coordinator for the Women's Outreach Center.

The centerpiece of the week is a production of “The Vagina Monologues,” an award-winning collection of vignettes based on interviews with women about sexuality.

The play begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Radke Recital Hall. Admission is free, and donations will be collected to benefit the nonprofit Oklahoma Women's Coalition.

Also included is One Billion Rising, an event in which students, faculty and staff are invited to dance and call for an end to violence against women. Those in attendance will be able to sign a pledge saying they oppose violence against women.

The event is designed to be “a gentle call to action,” Bromme said. It's intended to convey a message while remaining approachable, she said.

“It's not fire and brimstone,” Bromme said.

Timely awareness

UCO saw two fairly high-profile sexual assaults on campus last year. In the first case, Elvis J. Perkins, 33, was charged with sexual battery in connection with an incident in Murdaugh Hall, a UCO men's dormitory.