Drag show gets new name
By Michael Moeschler
Saturday night's Awareness Kickoff event in The Bronco will not be called a "drag show" due to pressure from the university.
The university community handbook states that student organizations must be consistent with the mission and goals of Santa Clara and its Catholic, Jesuit character. GASPED, the organization of gay and straight people for the education of diversity, which is sponsoring the event in The Bronco Saturday night, was informed by administration that the title of a "drag show" did not remain consistent with the university's mission.
"The administration viewed that the language was used more in advocacy, rather than to educate," said Jill Hulme, assistant director of the Benson Memorial Center. "Organizations like GALA (the gay and lesbian alliance) and GASPED exist in Jesuit institutions to educate, rather than advocate."
The event, which has been renamed "The Awareness Week Kickoff Show," is directed by junior Claire Riecke. "This whole issue over the choice of words has made me aware that censoring and homophobia are issues that need to be dealt with on this campus," Riecke said.
The decision to rename the drag show has left faculty and students questioning the motivation behind the change.
"I'm wondering why it was an issue if it was allowed last year," said John Hawley, a professor of English, specializing in homoeroticism. "Students have heard of drag shows. I don't think students would be shocked; it's a non-issue. It shouldn't bother administrators as well. Therefore, I wonder if the real target are alumni, who also shouldn't be shocked in this day and age."
Another word that wasn't allowed for the event was "queer." According to Hulme, the university must make sure the language supports the organization's educational purpose. Hawley believes that the word queer is evolving and is an acceptable one for university use.
"Regarding the use of the word queer, it is coming to be a term used in more academic circles than gay or lesbian," Hawley said. "The objection is that the university is to be a site of education. The use of the word queer, therefore, is not meant to be overly aggressive, but is meant to raise questions and move students in an educational direction and not only students, but faculty and administrators."
Several students are supporting the idea that an open forum for communication would be a good first step toward resolving some of the challenges that GALA and GASPED members say they face from the university.
"While I respect the position that Fr. Locatelli and other top figures have taken on this issue, I would like to see the administration perhaps interview or at least converse in some way with the GLBTQ (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and queer) community to see our point of view," said sophomore and show participant Angela Khalipa. "The university stresses the development of the person as a whole, and that we are all one community. If this is so true, I feel that Fr. Locatelli and the administration should acknowledge our concerns and differences, being that we too are part of the community."
Riecke recognized that an understanding would only be found with the support of the university. "Jill [Hulme] and Jeanne [Rosenberger] have good intentions; they are my allies," said Riecke. "I think we can work together on this to celebrate the gay culture and at the same time not alienate it."