Graduates express support for Monologues
Play inspired pride on
all-women's campus
I want to commend those ladies at the Saint Mary's College campus who are speaking out in support of "The Vagina Monologues." Saint Mary's claims that they are helping young women develop into independent and confident women. Canceling this play sends the message that they are developing intelligent, sexless and emotionless creatures and not women.
At the "Monologues" last year I sat near President Eldred, who I believe brought her daughter to the performance. She seemed to be enjoying the show as much as everyone else, as was evident by her laughter and applause.
Yet suddenly a letter is written to the South Bend Tribune and people who did not have the experience of being at the performance last year are criticizing it. Saint Mary's is bowing down to the financial supporters and doing a disservice to its students by canceling this play.
Why not show those who complained that SMC's true mission is to serve the students of Saint Mary's and not the endowment fund?
In my four years at SMC I never experienced such a powerful event on our campus. People came together and laughed and cried about a topic that is a part of every student at SMC. It was the first time that I and many others were so proud to be part of an all women's campus that could experience and share this event.
Thank you to those who participated in the performance last year. I know I have many friends who were personally touched by your performance and were then given the courage to talk about their own sexual abuse or talk to someone they know that had been abused. No pamphlet or forum could have done what you ladies did last year for them.
To the administration: I urge you not to cancel an event that allows your students to gather in a non-embarrassing way to discuss what they are, women. Do not let the money of those who did not see the good this event did for our campus talk you out of supporting it as wholeheartedly as it was supported last year.
Erin Donnelly Deschene
Saint Mary's class of '00
Cincinnati, Ohio
January 28, 2001
All Viewpoint Stories for Wednesday, January 31, 2001
