Several Saint Mary's students handed out flyers of protest prior to the Keenan Revue this past weekend. The flyer and its authors criticized the program for utilizing "hateful stereotypes" in many of its skits.

The Keenan Revue, a comedic variety show put on annually by the residents of Notre Dame's Keenan Hall, well known for its vulgar and sexual satire. The show's producers and participants embrace this image. However, in recent years the show has been increasingly criticized for what some call its overly racist and sexist content. Some Saint Mary's students have been particularly angered at the inclusion of numerous jokes about the Saint Mary's student body.

"I don't understand why if we are truly a Christian community there are such negative stereotypes on campus," said Jessica Bland, one of the flyer's authors. "It is truly hateful."

The distributed flyers included the definitions of words such as "stereotype," "misogyny," and "intolerance." On the right side of the sheet in bold type was the question "Still Laughing?"

One specific Revue comment that the flyer cited was a skit's reference to

Saint Mary's patron saint as "Saint Mary Magdalene, patron saint of whores." The flyer called the reference "slanderous" and "degrading," and said "this implies that the College community is composed of such persons."

The flyer also noted the fact that Keenan Hall was voted the best residence hall of the year. Keenan, as a result of this honor, has the responsibility "to uphold a standard of leadership, respecting all community members," the flyer said.

"I want to challenge Keenan residents, and all members of Notre Dame, Saint Mary's

and Holy Cross College to ask hard questions about how we're living up to the tradition of `God, Country, Not re Dame,' and what that means to us as Americans and Christians," Bland said.

Not all Saint Mary `s students, however, were so critical of the program, and felt that all the jokes were in good fun.

"The tickets are free and everyone knows what goes on," said Saint Mary's sophomore Kelly Doherty. "If you don't want to hear yourself get made fun of, don't go."

"They made fun of Notre Dame girls more than the Saint Mary's girls," added sophomore Kelsey Schatz "Why shouldn't we be able to take some of it?"

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