V-Monologues Canceled

Although I rarely if ever read the Notre Dame Student Newspaper, The Observer, a headline today caught my eye. "'Vagina Monologues' canceled this yeah". (Article is here.)

For the first time in eight years, Notre Dame students will not perform "The Vagina Monologues" at an on- or off-campus location.

Junior Miriam Olsen, a producer of last year's show, said the group of students in charge of organizing the production of "The Vagina Monologues" this year decided not to continue the show.

"We were not forbidden by the University to do the Monologues and we didn't give up fighting," she said.

"What happened was that I, and some other people who have been involved in the past, feel like the "Monologues" are an amazing piece that talks about women's sexuality that can be very productive for Notre Dame students," she said. "But unfortunately, what happens when the "Monologues" are put on, is they turn into more of a scandal than an action piece." [I had to read that line twice. The V-Monologues cause scandal, says producer. Maybe the whole Obama debate has had a positive impact after all, people are rediscovering the sin of scandal. Or perhaps she is just using a different meaning of the word scandal.]

After the first showing in 2002, the "Monologues" became an annual fixture at Notre Dame until 2007, when student organizers could not find an academic department at the University to sponsor the performance, The Observer reported.

The first showing of the Monologues off-campus was then performed at South Bend's First Unitarian Church on Feb. 28, 2007. [It is good to hear they couldn't even find a trinitarian location for this, I guess.]

University President Fr. John Jenkins allowed the production to be shown on campus in 2008, as long as an academic panel discussion followed each performance - a decision that was criticized by Fort Wayne-South Bend Bishop John D'Arcy and several other Catholic leaders and organizations.

[Junior Will Haley] said he believes the controversy that surrounds the "Monologues" every year entices students to attend and participate in the show. Letting the controversy rest for a year could benefit the show. [Or maybe it will just die off. We can hope in Our Lady, spes nostra.]

"If the word vagina wasn't in the title, I don't think anyone would take notice of it," [except, maybe, for the content.] he said. "It's the fact that it's not allowed to happen that pushes people to strive to put it on." [This may be partly true.]

This is good news. I wish that Fr. Jenkins would have told them no, but either way, they will not be happening. It is not so important that it has become some sort of tradition that can't be violated (like apparently the honoring of American Presidents no matter their stand.) If the V-Monologues take a rest, perhaps they will never wake up.

Sancta Maria, Spes Nostra, Sedes Sapientiae, Ora Pro Nobis!