Religion: The Vagina Monologues and ND

For the fifth consecutive year The Vagina Monologues were put on at Notre Dame (funded by the English Department rather than Film, Television, and Theater this year), albeit in a more circumspect way than previously due to the thoughts of the new regime. Below is the letter I wrote to Fr. Jenkins (the new President of Notre Dame):

Fr. Jenkins,

I am writing to express my support for the actions you have taken thus far, to describe my own thoughts concerning The Vagina Monologues, and also to express an area of concern highlighted by the current debate over academic freedom.

Your decision to appear before the faculty and then the students was an extraordinary example of the mission of a University President; you brought the campus together as a community of scholars. It is also heartening to hear your position put forward in clear and unambiguous language. A debate between such core concepts as the Catholic Identity of the school and Academic Freedom demands that the President make clear the administration's position. Finally, I agree with the steps you have taken so far in changing the name of The Queer Film Fesitval and limiting The Vagina Monologues.

Regarding The Vagina Monologues, I would like to begin with the statement that I an not completely opposed to the play appearing on campus. The work is not without some artistic merit (as its numerous fans will only be too eager to inform you), and, even if its artistry is not considered, the Monologues as a cultural phenomenon is worthy of study no matter how one views the play's message or means of delivering that message.

My objections to the Monologues rest on the fact that their continuing performance is purely a matter of ideology. No play is worthy of being put on year after year based on artistic merit alone. Since the production of the Monologues is ideological in nature, my problem with it is two-fold: sponsorship and connections. You have expressed your views on sponsorship already, so I see no reason to elaborate on a line of argument inferior to your own. On the second point, however, I think this
communication may be of some use. The Vagina Monologues is not performed in a vacuum. It is part of the larger program of Eve Ensler's V-Day. Despite some admirable goals, V-Day promotes a view of the world and of human sexuality directly in conflict with the Church. I find it highly relevant to the discussion that V-Day is an active, current organization with explicit goals. The University of Notre Dame should not be expected to fund and propagate annually the message of an organization dedicated to ends at odds with the Church in the name of academic freedom. Were the on-campus organizers of the Monologues to choose a different play to address their concerns--a play unconnected with an objectionable larger movement--I cannot see there being this controversy.

Finally, I wish to discuss one of the underlying causes of this entire controversy over academic freedom. A story from the January 26th edition of The Observer enabled me to make this connection. The quote in question describes the English Department's decision to fund the Monologues: "Of the 30 or so faculty members (out of a department of approximately 40) who attended the vote, all elected to sponsor the 'Monologues,' he [Handler] said. And debate was 'definitely more charged' than in 2002." A performance that you considered troubling was supported unanimously by one of your major departments. I think I may safely assume that many other departments would vote similarly. Not unrelated is the fact that exactly two from all my classes at Notre Dame began with a daily prayer. The faculty's decades-long drift from Catholicism ensures that a far larger number of professors than desirable (some dissent is essential to learning) will teach, support, and research ideas and positions at odds with the Church. I by no means advocate a compoletely monolithic body of professors, but I find it hard to believe that the faculty can effectively accomplish its mission (or even want to accomplish its mission) in sync with the administration and students, unless the majority of professors are practicing Catholics. The current controversy over the Monologues is thus a symptom of a far larger problem. From discussion with professors, I am aware of the difficulty in assembling a faculty that is at the forefront of its respective fields and yet Catholic. I am also aware that the administration is doing its best to hire Catholic faculty.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,