Notre Dame Reins In Gay And Women's Events

SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - The University of Notre Dame's new president said Tuesday that he will put limits on two of the campus' most controversial events, saying the Queer Film Festival and performances of "The Vagina Monologues" raise concerns for the Roman Catholic school.
Rev. John Jenkins stopped short of canceling this year's events, scheduled for next month, but the 52-year-old scholar and priest said he would seek input from students, faculty and alumni before deciding whether the shows should continue in future years.
The play will be staged this year in a smaller lecture hall without ticket sales, and the film festival's name will be changed.
In an address, Jenkins acknowledged the "sacred" value of academic freedom but also said that value should not trump all other considerations at the Catholic school.
"In some situations, given the distinctive character and aspirations of Notre Dame, it may be necessary to establish certain boundaries, while defending the appropriate exercise of academic freedom," he told students in the second of a series of speeches this week about potential conflicts between academic freedom and Catholic values.
He argued that events should not be sponsored by the university, or one of its academic departments, when they are "contrary to or inconsistent with the fundamental values of a Catholic university." He said that by doing so, it appears that the university endorses the content of the events, which are sponsored by academic departments so they can be held on campus.
But he said he would spend at least the next six to eight weeks listening to others before making a decision on the future of the film festival and play.
The discussion, which has polarized the campus and the broader Catholic community, comes amid pressure for Catholic colleges to ban "The Vagina Monologues," a performance about female sexuality and violence against women. Twenty-one Catholic campuses have shows scheduled this year, according to the Cardinal Newman Society, a religious organization that has protested the performances.
Acknowledging that the film fest and monologues have drawn criticism, Jenkins said in an interview that his decision to address the issue was not in response to alumni pressures or a Vatican mandate.
Jenkins, who took over July 1 and is Notre Dame's third president in the last half-century, has said that maintaining Notre Dame's religious character will be difficult in a culture that has become both more secular and more radically religious.
He said he hopes his speeches this week will help the university community understand how he will make difficult decisions. While he will consider others' views, he said decisions will be based on what is best for the school and its mission--in his judgment.
"If the issue is something that touches on the Catholic Church, I have a special role to play in that decision," he said in an interview after his speech.
About 400 students attended his address Tuesday and more watched it on television in the student center. Jenkins spoke to faculty Monday and plans to meet with alumni Thursday.
Jenkins drew a distinction between limiting the individual speech of faculty members or students and putting boundaries on events sponsored by and held at the university.
Regarding the Queer Film Festival and "The Vagina Monologues," Jenkins said he fears it appears that the university is endorsing events that promote homosexuality and sexuality with no discussion of morality.
Jenkins said he will allow "The Vagina Monologues" to be performed this year, but only in a lecture hall. Jenkins also barred fundraising for the student performance, calling it an academic presentation instead. About $15,000 was raised last year for a YMCA and Sexual Offense Services, organizers said.
The 3-year-old Queer Film Festival, meanwhile, will change its name to Gay & Lesbian Film: Filmmakers, Narratives, Spectatorships, said student co-chair Harry Karahalios.
Discussions during the Feb. 9 to 11 event will be limited to topics related to film and not homosexuality, Jenkins said.
Notre Dame senior Kaitlyn Redfield, who has organized "The Vagina Monologues" performance for the last three years, said the play is one of the few avenues where students feel empowered to talk about sexual violence against women.
"What you will be shutting down is free inquiry and the open discernment of faith," said Redfield, one of about 16 students who addressed Jenkins.
All but one of the students spoke against Jenkins' position, but they later argued outside the auditorium with more than a dozen students who favored limiting such events.
"The `Vagina Monologues' is an expression of sexuality that is not in line with Catholic teaching and goes against the ideals of a Catholic university," said senior Arina Grossu, 22.
Others said they see the potential elimination of the events as a regression after years of moving toward the acceptance of diverse lifestyles. While the university does not recognize gay and lesbian student groups, there is a committee on Gay and Lesbian Student Needs.
History and gender studies professor Gail Bederman said that when she started teaching at Notre Dame 13 years ago, students wouldn't say the world "gay" in class. Now students wear T-shirts that say, "Gay? Fine by Me."
She disagreed that sponsoring an event implicitly means agreement with the content.
"Universities sponsor all sorts of activities that they don't advocate," Bederman said, adding that she still praised Jenkins for addressing the issue.
"As the new president, it has been a hot potato dumped in his lap," she said. "For the president to stand up and say something that is not going to be popular, and to say `this is my opinion but I want to know what you think,' is just extraordinary."
from Chicago Tribune

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