The panelists brought up such issues as statistics on sexual assaults suffered by women and pregnancies resulting from such assaults, services offered to students on campus to deal with sexual violence and social issues, and controversies surrounding abortion decisions.
Choice USA is a campus-oriented national group whose aim is to educate people on reproductive choice -- from abortion to adoption -- and how to prevent unwanted pregnancy.
Choice USA worked in collaboration with the Carolina V-Day Initiative to put on this event during V-Week.
Carolina V-Day Initiative is a student-run organization promoting awareness of violence against women by sponsoring V-Week, said Carolina V-Day Initiative founder and event coordinator Kim Benton.
V-Week is composed of events focusing on women's issues, concluding with the performance of Eve Ensler's play "Vagina Monologues" at the end of the week.
"Our basic purpose (of V-Week) is to put on our performance of the 'Vagina Monologues,'" Benton said.
In 1999, Ensler extended the invitation to participate in V-Day to colleges and universities all over the world.
In accepting the offer, colleges are required to donate money raised by the performances to local organizations working to stop sexual violence.
Calling it the "College Initiative," 65 schools accepted Ensler's proposal in 1999. UNC joined these and many other schools, putting on its first performance in February of 2001.
Proceeds made from last year's performance of "Vagina Monologues" went to the Orange County Rape Crisis Center. This year, the money will benefit the Family Violence Prevention Center.
Monday's event was one of several V-Week events sponsored by Carolina V-Day Initiative. It was a benefit concert composed of several student dance and musical groups as the week's kickoff event.
Other events organized for this week include "Help for You, Helping Others," which is scheduled to take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday in 431 Greenlaw Hall.
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This event, organized by the Orange County Rape Crisis Center and the Family Violence Prevention Center, will host one-on-one sexual and domestic violence discussion.
Experts will explain to participants what to do in a violent situation and how to help someone who is a victim of domestic and sexual violence.
For the full story, visit The Daily Tar Heel online at www.dailytarheel.com.
Students Debate Peace, Violence and Faith
Amid the frenzy of student elections, 12 students gathered in an informal setting Tuesday night to discuss war and peace while they munched on chocolate chip cookies.
The Wesley Foundation sponsored the hour-long event entitled "Does Violence Promote Peace?" The event was held at 9 p.m. in the first-floor lounge of Hinton James Residence Hall.
The discussion began with a reading of a Mongolian prayer by Sara Pugh, program manager of the Weseley Foundation.
The event explored topics such as foreign policy, peace, violence, Sept. 11 and Christian views on aggression.
For the full story, visit the DTH online at www.dailytarheel.com.