Controversial play moves off campus
By Gina Belmonte
"The Vagina Monologues" won't be making any noise on campus this year.
After controversy over the explicit sexual nature of the play caused headaches last year, coordinators decided to avoid the administrative red tape and move the production off campus. Despite these issues, people were turned away at the door due to its popularity last year.
"We didn't talk to the administration because we simply assumed that it would not be okay with them," said campaign student coordinator Kristin Schmitz.
Insisting on an on-campus production would have taken away from the focus of the production and turned the event into a battle between a student production team and the administration, said Francesca McKenzie, coordinator of last year's production.
Jon Gray, director of the center for student leadership, said there would be plenty of conversation with other administrative officials about another production of "The Vagina Monologues" because of the show's content.
Last year, University President Paul Locatelli, S.J., received complaints regarding the production from the Cardinal Newman Society, a group dedicated to preserving Catholic values on college campuses. In 2006, the society took on a campaign to prevent performances of the "morally offensive" play at all Catholic universities according to previous reports by The Santa Clara.
Executive Assistant to the President Jim Briggs could not be reached for comment.
Last year, the production team had to follow several guidelines. They added an educational component, had a professor introduce the subject, capped the amount of tickets sold and were not allowed to advertise on campus, said McKenzie.
Coordinators that were abroad last fall felt pressed for time upon returning to Santa Clara. There also didn't seem to be much administrative support, said McKenzie.
An on-campus production wasn't denied this year. Gray said no one started the initial paperwork necessary to plan the production.
"We would be very open to conversation about having the event on campus," said Gray.
Locatelli said "The Vagina Monologues" had "run its course" in a discussion with The Santa Clara in April.
Schmitz replied, the production will not have run its course until sexual violence against women has run its course.
The university reserves the right to manage the time, place and manner in which events occur on campus.
"The Vagina Monologues" is an award-winning play based on a book by Eve Ensler that consists of interviews and testimonies on being a woman.
"It's a story about birth and life," said Schmitz. "There are a lot of sad monologues, but sexual abuse really happens. Overall, it's about empowering women and getting the message out there: We have a voice, too."
Ensler established V-day, a global non-profit organization that campaigns against sexual violence towards women. College campuses can produce the play without paying copyright fees if the cast is all women and five percent of the profit goes to V-Day.
The performances in association with V-Day usually occur between Jan. 1 and March 30, but the organization recognized Santa Clara's special circumstances and allowed them to perform in June.
This year, the producers have decided to give the remaining proceeds to HomeSafe, a women's shelter in San Jose.
The production will retain its educational component and will be advertised on campus.
The American Legion Center, a community facility near the university that gave the production a reduced price, will be the location this year.
Communication professor Laura Ellingson donated the costs of utilizing the center, a total of $150.
The production will take place June 2. Tickets go on sale Monday in Benson Memorial Center for $10.
Contact Gina Belmonte at (408)554-4546 or gbelmonte@scu.edu