The Vagina Monologues," which will return to Hays this week, is a show that defines various kinds of sexual and domestic abuse and reveals its often catastrophic physical and psychological consequences.

Its purpose is to help end such violence. When it played here in 2006, appalling news of the murder of a former Fort Hays State University drama student by her boyfriend right here in Hays had just broken. Among many others, we who were connected with the "Vagina Monologues" deplored the murder and redoubled our efforts to make the show a success. We hoped it would help prevent such horrors as this. Also, all proceeds were donated to Northwest Kansas Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Inc. -- the shelter for victims of sexual and domestic abuse.

Ironically, there were those in Hays who, misinformed about the nature and purpose of the "Vagina Monologues," did not object publicly to the murder, but complained vociferously against the show. Fortunately, their outcry only increased local interest, and with it, guaranteed the success of "The Vagina Monologues." But we must do even better this year.

The horror goes on and on -- a recent suspected rape and sexual battery in Hays; the murder last July of Jana Lynne Mackey, who had close ties to Hays; newspapers and TV full of the battery, rape and murder of Jodi Sanderholm. How can we go on thinking these things are rarities in Hays when, according to Charlotte Linsner, director of NKDSV, there are more than 200 reported cases of sexual abuse here per year? And these are, Linsner said, only about one-third of the total. Do the math: an estimated 600-plus incidents of sexual abuse annually. Here. To quote Walt Kelly's "Pogo": "We have met the enemy and he is us." Now what are we going to do about it?

We need to learn as much as we can about sexual and domestic abuse to avoid experiencing it. To this end, we must support all local institutions such as NKDSVS and FHSU's Kelly Center that provide information about it and aid for its victims. We need to use every opportunity to serve others -- such as joining "1,100 Torches -- Jana's call for action," a national campaign against abuse inspired by the life of Mackey. Please see the Web site www.1100torches.org.

And you can help light a torch by attending a performance of Eve Ensler's "The Vagina Monologues," at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Cody Commons in the Memorial Union on the FHSU campus. It's shaping up to be a fairly decent production. Admission is $10 at the door. All proceeds benefit Northwest Kansas Domestic and Sexual Violence Services.

Ruth Firestone is a supporter of music and theater in Hays. rfiresto@fhsu.edu