Univ. Cancels Student 'Vagina Monologues' Production

University President Father David M. O'Connell cancelled a drama student production of "The Vagina Monologues," the controversial play written by Eve Ensler.

This decision comes with great shock and disappointment to those who see the play as a celebration of femininity as well as a means to raise awareness of violence aimed at women. School officials argue that the play diminishes the dignity of women as well as the sanctity of human sexuality.

"The Vagina Monologues" first appeared Off-Broadway in 1996. The play details the related experiences of a group of women, each of them focusing on their vaginas. The play has various interpretations by several groups.

Administrators of several Catholic colleges view the play as a promotion of sexual immorality. One monologue of the play describes the rape of a 16 year-old girl by a 24 year-old lesbian. The main character views the rape as a positive sexual enlightening.

Father David M. O'Connell, President of Catholic University, commented on the issue.

"I have read the play and have actually seen it performed on a television broadcast…I find the play crude, ugly, vulgar and unworthy of staging or performing at CUA in any venue whatsoever. I believe that CUA, its excellent Drama department, and the cause of promoting the dignity of women deserve much better than this play and can find much better expression than this play presents. In addition to the affront and offense posed to Catholic teachings and values by some aspects of the play, it has become a symbol each year of the desire of some folks to push Catholic campuses over the edge of good and decent judgment. Sooner or later, someone has got to simply say 'enough.' I am saying 'enough' and I'll take whatever criticism is hurled my way as a badge of honor for CUA, its mission, its values and all that it represents. I took this position last year, this year and I'll take it again next year and every year I am here."

The decision made by the administration has seen opposition from the students who were producing the play. "I think the 'powers that be' have forgotten to trust their students. We are good, smart, artistic, strong young women," said Kelsey Grouge, a senior Drama major.

Erin O'Keefe, a sophomore Drama major involved with the performance of the play, commented on the message of "The Vagina Monologues." "What 'The Vagina Monologues' is really about is reconnection. Women are told who and what they are (and what they should and shouldn't be) by thousands of different sources: the media, men, other women, clothing manufacturers, etc. Because of this, we (women) have a tendency to forget who we think we are, who we know we are. And in order to remember, we should probably start with the basic part of our anatomy that no one likes to talk about: our vaginas," said O'Keefe.

On whether or not the play contradicts Catholic values, O'Keefe said. "It seems to me that this school does an awful lot of sacrificing of educational caliber, variety and diversity of thought, and potential growth experiences for the students of this campus in order to appease some epic ideal of what The Catholic University should be. I came to school to learn, and grow, and to more fully discover who I am. I am Catholic, but I am also an actor, an activist, and a woman with a vagina. I shouldn't feel like those things contradict each other."

At the end of the fall semester, a group of students proposed that "The Vagina Monologues" be presented on campus to the student body. Auditions, casting, and rehearsals had already commenced when the decision was passed down to cancel production. It was intended to be staged on February 14 and the following weekend in order to raise awareness for V-Day, a holiday to combat violence against women. V-Day also is a non-profit organization that advocates awareness in women's rights and sponsors the play's performance at colleges and other venues nationally and internationally.

Moreover, this was not the first time that the University censored a drama department performance on the basis of conflicts with Church teaching. In 1996, then Provost Msgr. John Whippel and former Dean of Arts and Sciences Antanas Suziedelis canceled public advertising of a performance of "Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches" due to its treatment of active homosexuality after reviewing its script. In addition then University president Brother Patrick Ellis stated that his objections to the play included "an abundance of foul language." The play however was allowed to be performed with a panel discussions discussing the topics presented following each performance.

In 2001, "The Vagina Monologues" was performed at Georgetown University. Robert Swope, a columnist for The Hoya, Georgetown's campus newspaper, wrote an article criticizing the play. His column was entitled "Applauding Rape at Georgetown." Swope was fired from The Hoya for reasons he believes were linked to opposition to his column. The article was never published. In a recent interview with The Tower, Swope said, "In The Vagina Monologues, a 13 year old girl is glowingly depicted being plied with vodka then molested by a lesbian who is portrayed as that piece's unstated hero. I can't imagine any university, much less a Catholic one, wishing to condone that sort of behavior." [Editors Note: In the version of "The Vagina Monologues proposed for Catholic University, the rape victim was 16 years old.]

Promoters assert that The Vagina Monologues addresses issues such as sexual abuse, violence against women, and female empowerment. As written on their website, V-Day is "a global movement to stop violence against women and girls." Using the funds raised from performances of The Vagina Monologues, V-Day contributes to national and international groups that work towards the end of violence against women. Susan Swan, V-Day's Media and Communications Director commented on the opposition to the play. "The essence is that we need to call to mind the realities of these monologues. The issue is not to call them vulgar or offensive. The issue is to call violence against women vulgar and offensive," said Swan.

The University is not the first Catholic college to ban the play. Providence College in Providence, R.I. also has prevented "The Vagina Monologues" from being staged on its campus this semester. Father Brian J. Shanley, President of Providence College and former Catholic University professor of Philosophy, recently addressed his students as to why the school's administration issued the ban. "First, far from celebrating the complexity and mystery of female sexuality, "The Vagina Monologues" simplifies and demystifies it by reducing it to the vagina. In contrast, Roman Catholic teaching sees female sexuality as ordered toward a loving giving of self to another in a union of body, mind, and soul that is ordered to the procreation of new life," said Shanley.

He then proposed, as a substitute to a V-Day presentation of "The Vagina Monologues," a weeklong campaign through Project S.A.V.E. (Sexual Assault and Violence Education). "Project S.A.V.E. is a collaborative effort of many student groups to educate the campus about how to prevent violence against women and help survivors heal," said Shanley. He then addressed the fact that some will oppose the decision to ban the play. Shanley stated, "Doubtless some will reply that this is a violation of artistic freedom. But artistic freedom on a Catholic campus cannot mean the complete license to perform or display any work of art regardless of its intellectual or moral content. Any institution which sanctioned works of art that undermined its deepest values would be inauthentic, irresponsible, and ultimately self-destructive."