Pussy cookies, T-shirts and jewelry making are part of the festivities of Vagina Day, which climaxes in Storke Plaza today.

Hosted by UCSB’s Women’s Ensemble Theater Troupe, the gathering is geared toward the promotion of V-Day, an event that raises money for programs working to end violence against women. From 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., students can participate in a range of activities, including a “va-jewelry” table, where attendees can create vagina-inspired jewelry in return for a donation. Additionally, WETT will sell T-shirts sporting the phrases “Vaginomite” and “100% Vagitarian.”

Yesterday, while dressed in a vagina costume – V-Day’s signature mascot – third-year theater major Chelsea Snyder said she enjoyed her outfit, despite becoming the subject of numerous cell phone snapshots.

“My vagina feels violated,” Snyder said. “That guy just took a picture of me and didn’t ask.”

WETT President Margaret Pettigrew, a fourth-year English major, said students can also snack on representations of the spotlighted sexual organ.

“We will have a pussy cookie decoration booth and better-than-sex cake to munch on,” Pettigrew said. “It’s a V-Day staple.”

Vanilla, strawberry and chocolate frosting is provided for pussy cookie decorators, which Pettigrew said represents the spectrum of skin tones.

Today’s V-Day celebration aims to educate UCSB students on issues such as rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation and sexual slavery, Pettigrew said.

“[Today’s celebration] is aimed at raising money and awareness about the issues of violence against women,” Pettigrew said. “I feel like people are afraid to talk about vaginas in general, and [today] will provide an open sexual discussion.”

WETT is also working in collaboration with the Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center, Sexual Assault Response Team, Student Health Sex and Relationship Interns, Planned Parenthood and Men Against Rape.

The annual celebration will conclude with “The Vagina Monologues” today and tomorrow at 8 p.m. in Campbell Hall – tickets are $8 and are available at the A.S. Ticket Office or at the door. Proceeds from the event will go to Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center, SART and to the V-Day focus group, the Women of New Orleans and the Gulf South.