Monologues Puts the Spotlight on Sexual Harassment

Destinie Schroff, Staff Reporter

destinie_schroff @csumb.edu

May 1, 2008

When Hayley Allison,

Teledramatic Arts and Technology

(TAT) sophomore, and Rachel

Asendorf, TAT freshman, were

assigned to Marina High School

(MHS) for their Service Learning

(SL) class, they reflected back on

their dramatic high school pasts;

theatrical drama that is.

On May 9 in the Marina High

Auditorium, 10 high school

freshmen and sophomores will be

performing “Speak UP,” a play

written by Asendorf and directed

by Allison.

Using monologues, “Speak

UP” discusses sexual harassment

ranging from a girl who stands

up against her mother’s predator

to a female boss who hits on her

employee. Allison and the Marina

High principal, Mr. Livermore,

decided to focus on sexual

harassment due to an incident on

the campus.

Allison, who has been involved

in drama since her sophomore

high school year, said in regards

to her experience with plays that

“there is a lot of [inappropriate]

touching” and her hope for the

play is that “people understand

sexual harassment hasn’t gone

away and needs to be dealt with.”

As to be expected when working

with 10 freshman and sophomore

high school girls, there is a lot

giggling, friendly gossip, twirling

of hair and discussions of cute boys

the moment a break is announced.

But as soon as the girls come on

stage to perform, they were able

to embody their characters and

the great information and maturity

they show is striking.

Caitlyn Kelley, a MHS freshman

and actress in a monologue titled “I

Won’t Allow It” said she “wasn’t

sure about the topic because it has

been so heavy at school but I had

to put away fears and think about

the people [sexual harassment]

has affected.”

Asendorf wrote the monologues

to show different types and

situations of sexual harassment.

One of the monologues shows a

girl who is assaulted and does not

say anything. “People shouldn’t

bottle up their emotions and take

it; they should speak up, hence the

name of the play,” said Asendorf.

Mary Hodge, a MHS freshman

who acts in the monologue “It’s

My Fault” where she is sexually

Saturday April 26 the CSU

Monterey Bay (CSUMB) club,

Black Student Union (BSU) held

their third bi-annual talent show

where 16 acts performed at the

chance to win first place and $300.

The acts varied in styles from

dancing to rock bands to rappers

and even opera.

According to Lauren Owens,

BSU president, “The event was

started as an idea from our advisor

who thought it would be cool

to bring back just an old school

talent show”. Owens also said that

it also gives the club something

to do after Black History Month

since they do not have any events

after February.

Previous shows in the spring

semester of 2007 and last fall

semester both sold out and filled

the venues. “The shows are

awesome and students love them,”

said Owens.

The performers are local acts

and CSUMB students, which

have to audition in order to get

into the talent show. Although

not all the acts get in, some are

invited to audition in the following

semester’s show.

Sierra Blanton, Human

Communication junior, and

Stephanie Chidodo, Liberal Studies

freshman were enjoying the show

from front row. The girls were

there cheering for the CSUMB hip

hop club Rhythmic Flow which

seemed to be a favorite amongst

the audience.

“One has to give credit to all

that get up [on stage]; it takes a lot

to perform in front of your peers,”

said Blanton.

Once everyone performed, all

attacked and blames herself, said

that “it is really important to talk

about [this issue], especially in

high schools because students

don’t get what’s wrong and they

need to be informed.”

Asendorf wants the students to be

impacted by the play. “I want them

to leave the play with some sort of

awareness and understanding of

what sexual harassment means; I

want the school to recognize signs

and not be afraid to talk about the

issues,” she said.