Student volunteers on the UA Mall yesterday used a variety of marketing chants such as “”Vaginas for sale, we’ve got vaginas”” and “”Get your own vagina today,”” to promote ticket sales for an upcoming awareness show.

The chocolate vaginas are being sold during Valentine’s week along with flowers, carnations and tickets to “”The Vagina Monologues,”” a play being put on by the Network of Student Feminist Activists.

The show’s cast is mainly composed of UA volunteer student actresses who, through the show, will attempt to raise public awareness of women’s issues in the community and worldwide, said Jessica Samoy, a theatre arts junior.

“”This whole show is about raising awareness,”” said Laura Roberts, a cast member and elementary education junior. “”Basically, helping women understand that they have power because they are a woman and they’re not alone.””

Ninety percent of the proceeds will benefit the UA’s Oasis Program for Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence, Roberts said.

Last year, she said, the performance helped raise more than $8,000 for the program while the other 10 percent was donated to another organization, Roberts said.

“”A common misconception is that (the show) is just for girls or that it bashes guys,”” Roberts said. “”It is definitely for both sexes; a lot of men go in unsure and afterwards come up and say they are glad they came.””

Every year the show has one spotlight performance that is the emphasis of the show.

“”The reason I’m really excited for the show this year is because of the spotlight,”” said Jennifer Fang, a UA graduate student who will be performing the monologue. “”This year the show will raise money for women who were tricked during World War II and forced to be sexual slaves for the Japanese Imperial Army.””

The Japanese Comfort Women of World War II will be highlighted in the performance as a demonstration of women’s oppression worldwide, Fang said.

Fang said the women have not been officially acknowledged or recognized, although the women have broken their silence and began protesting the history books that exclude them.

Ten percent of the proceeds of every performance worldwide will be donated to the Comfort Women’s fund to help them continue protesting in Japan.

“”The spotlight also explores questions of sexuality, violence and identity while raising the pride and education of women,”” Fang said.

The group’s Web site, www.vday.org, has declared the week “”V-day,”” which stands for victory, valentine and vagina.

“”V-Day is a global movement to stop violence against women and girls,”” according the site. “”V-Day is a catalyst that promotes creative events to increase awareness, raise money and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations.””

The show infuses comedy with drama in a way that is entertaining and meaningful to the viewer, Samoy said.

“”Overall, the show is empowering for anyone who sees it,”” said Monica Hernandez, a theatre arts junior. “”It is definitely worth seeing for anyone.””

Tickets will be available on the UA Mall today for $8 per student and $10 for general admission or they will be $10 at the door.

The show opens tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. in Social Sciences 100, 1145 E. South Campus Drive, and runs through Saturday.