'Monologues' return to campus amid controversy
Eve Ensler's much debated play sees walkout protest after first act at DeBartolo
Joe McMahon
Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: News
"The Vagina Monologues," Eve Ensler's controversial play exploring female sexuality, returned to campus last night in DeBartolo 101 despite cries of protest from students, alumni and local bishop John D'Arcy. The performance was followed by a panel discussion featuring three University professors, a representative of D'Arcy's office and a surprise appearance by president of the Alumni Association Richard Nussbaum.
The play, which was performed by Notre Dame students and sponsored by the University's departments of anthropology, political science and sociology, protests violence against women and argues that a woman's vagina is not dirty but rather an inherent part of her identity.
"We were worried about vaginas," producer Lisa Rauh said in her introduction. "Violence against women is a common day occurrence."
Several Notre Dame students, however, saw the play as an affront to the Church's teachings on sexuality, which they believe has no place at a Catholic University.
After the first monologue, "Hair," ended, 20 to 30 students rose from their seats and exited the room, creating a slight disturbance. In their empty seats they left letters explaining their decision.
"We have chosen to attend, and immediately depart from, this performance of 'The Vagina Monologues' in order to protest its performance on campus for seventh out of the past eight years (sic)," the letter explained. "Upon leaving the play, we are headed as a group to the Grotto, where we will pray for the students, faculty, and administration of the University of Notre Dame, and particularly that our institutional participation in such a demeaning cultural fad will come to an end. As loyal sons and daughters of Our Lady, we are confident that she will hear our prayer."
Nussbaum said he disagreed with many elements of the play and the protesters were not wrong for walking out, but still made him uncomfortable.
The organizers of the monologues did not protest this departure, and instead welcomed audience members in the back to fill the empty seats up front.
The play, which was performed by Notre Dame students and sponsored by the University's departments of anthropology, political science and sociology, protests violence against women and argues that a woman's vagina is not dirty but rather an inherent part of her identity.
"We were worried about vaginas," producer Lisa Rauh said in her introduction. "Violence against women is a common day occurrence."
Several Notre Dame students, however, saw the play as an affront to the Church's teachings on sexuality, which they believe has no place at a Catholic University.
After the first monologue, "Hair," ended, 20 to 30 students rose from their seats and exited the room, creating a slight disturbance. In their empty seats they left letters explaining their decision.
"We have chosen to attend, and immediately depart from, this performance of 'The Vagina Monologues' in order to protest its performance on campus for seventh out of the past eight years (sic)," the letter explained. "Upon leaving the play, we are headed as a group to the Grotto, where we will pray for the students, faculty, and administration of the University of Notre Dame, and particularly that our institutional participation in such a demeaning cultural fad will come to an end. As loyal sons and daughters of Our Lady, we are confident that she will hear our prayer."
Nussbaum said he disagreed with many elements of the play and the protesters were not wrong for walking out, but still made him uncomfortable.
The organizers of the monologues did not protest this departure, and instead welcomed audience members in the back to fill the empty seats up front.