Alice Wolfkill: ‘Burgian of the Week
GETTYSBURG GREATS: ALICE
Interview by Hannah Tenenbaum
Alice was selected to be the “’Burgian of the Week” for her tremendous involvement with the Vagina Monologues in February.
Q: What are you studying?
A: I’m a Sociology major and a Women Gender Sexuality Studies major, WGS for short.
Q: Where are you from?
A: Baltimore, Maryland
Q: What are your activities on campus, hobbies or favorite pastimes?
A: I used to play ultimate Frisbee here, and now do it recreationally. I also am a runner and training for a half marathon in the summer to support cancer research. I am also on the Women Gender Sexuality Studies Program Advisory Council (WGSPAC). It is a panel of professors and students involved in the department. Besides the Vagina Monologues, I am also interning at Planned Parenthood in Gettysburg and I’d hopefully like to combine my 400-capstone paper with my research there. I am a part of ADPi and I love the women I’ve been connected with through our service.
Q: What does the Vagina Monologues mean to you?
A: That is a tricky question to answer. I’m really against sexual violence or any kind of violence towards people based on their sexual or gender identity and orientation. It irks me. I like to think that if I do something, then maybe someone else will start to do something as well. I also do it because I want to create a discourse on campus about sexual assault awareness. That’s why we do the “Write Out” in addition to the monologues each year. We try to collect anonymous stories from people on campus with experiences of sexual assault and abuse. While it’s extremely difficult stuff to read, it gets people talking about why and how to stop it. This is something, Sarah and I, the other co-director from this year, and KC the previous co-director implemented. While the monologues are funny, there is a grain of truth to everything. This stuff doesn’t just happen in some third world country, like the DRC or Haiti, this stuff happens on the Gettysburg Campus. The monologues are a humorous way to have people think about it. The point is to make you uncomfortable which makes you think about it and hopefully in turn start trying to stop it.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Gettysburg?
A: Gettysburg has opened so many doors for me. Looking back on my 4 years, I realized this even half way through, it changed my life. Coming to Gettysburg may have been the best decision I made for myself. I wanted to be pre-med, pre-dental, Health Sciences, but liberal arts curriculum forced me to branch out. If I hadn’t taken SOC 101 freshman fall, I wouldn’t have found sociology which pushed me into WGS. Both have become such a passion of mine. Part of me still wants to be a dentist, but I still want to be a professional ballerina too (laughs). Gettysburg has offered me so many opportunities; to travel the world, to inspire others, to connect with so many influential individuals, and to develop my passions.
