Vagina Monologues to open

By Cecile Nguyen and Mary Georgevich

Though the new president may be offering some changes, there is one policy from last year that Michael Engh, S.J., has retained: "The Vagina Monologues" will not be performed on campus.

The play, which features stories about women and sexual experiences, will be held off campus for the second consecutive year.

Jeana Williams and Joelle Strickland, producers of the show, said they sent a letter to Engh on Jan. 8 requesting that "The Vagina Monologues" be permitted to be shown on campus this year.

"We truly hope that you will endorse our efforts to end violence against women and girls," they wrote in the letter. The letter stated that they would need to begin preparing for the performance no later than Jan. 26.

Engh denied their request, stating that the university has a commitment to fighting sexual assault on campus, as evidenced by groups like 1 in 4 and Every Two Minutes.

"Santa Clara offers both a depth and breadth of programming and courses on justice for women and has done so for several years," Engh said in the Jan. 28 letter addressed to Williams and Strickland. "Given the many initiatives already underway, and the shortness of the time frame you proposed, I have concluded that it is best not to support the initiative this year."

This year's show will be held on Monday, April 20 and Thursday, April 23 at 8 p.m at the American Legion at 958 Homestead Rd.

"Even though we will not be moving forward with a repeat production and staging of 'The Vagina Monologues' this year, we will continue to challenge ourselves and society at large with myriad programs related to the prevention of violence against women," wrote Engh.

The controversial nature of the play was a deterrence for Engh.

"You are aware that there are strong differences of opinion about the place of Vagina Monologues on a Catholic university campus," Engh wrote.

Loyola Marymount University, Georgetown University and Boston College are a few of the Jesuit universities who have participated in the V-Day movement that "The Vagina Monologues" supports, said Williams and Strickland.

"You included in your letter the names of several Catholic and Jesuit institutions that have held performances of the play," wrote Engh. "Such university endorsement and support for the play typically results in controversy that often sidetracks the conversation away from violence against women and toward other, unrelated matters such as Catholic identity and academic freedom."

Francesca McKenzie, a student that has participated in the show several times, said she feels the play could be a great way to start a dialogue.

"I'm disappointed that we haven't been able to even have a dialogue with the administrators," she said.

The show sold out two performances when it was held on campus in 2007. Last year, it was moved off campus and also sold out both shows.

"Last year's performance brought people from the entire community together in solidarity to end violence," wrote Williams and Strickland in an e-mail.

Performances of "The Vagina Monologues" are held across the country to raise money and support V-Day, which works to end violence against women.

According to Williams and Strickland, the V-Day movement has raised over $60 million.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by e-mailing scuvaginamonologues09@gmail.com.

McKenzie said she hopes Engh will be in attendance. "I think he should come and see it," she said. "That would be great."

Contact Cecile Nguyen and Mary Georgevich and (408) 554-4546 or news@thesantaclara.com.