The latest salvo in Notre Dame’s “Vaginagate” controversy is being fired this week, as Her Loyal Daughters — sort of a homegrown, Notre Dame-specific version of the Vagina Monologues, but designed to be less divisive and more focused on the issue of sexual violence on this campus — is playing at the DeBartolo Center. It opened to a packed house yesterday, and produced a lengthy panel discussion afterward. It was performed again tonight, and will be again tomorrow and Thursday nights at 7:30 PM. According to the Observer:

“Loyal Daughters” emerged from the more than 50 interviews senior Emily Weisbecker conducted with Notre Dame students, faculty and staff members about the presence of sexuality and sexual assault on Notre Dame’s campus. These interviews resulted in 24 skits that touch on topics ranging from rape and drinking to virginity and self-defense.

“I think the fact that it tells stories about Notre Dame — they are true stories from our campus — makes it very close to home and that is something that can’t be touched on by any other play, because these are students right now,” said Weisbecker, who wrote and directed the production. “It just makes it very real — it makes it more urgent.”

Weisbecker wrote a letter to the editor in Monday’s paper, urging people to come see her play:

Dear Notre Dame community,

Rape happens at Notre Dame, and it happens more than you might think. In order to stop the violence, we must break the silence. More than 55 of your classmates and professors have come forward with their stories and perspectives on sexuality and sexual assault, so that you might develop a better understanding of the campus sexual culture, and thus get involved in making Notre Dame a safer place for all of us.

“Loyal Daughters” is a student-run production taking place at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center today through Thursday, and it’s worth your time. To those who oppose and protest “The Vagina Monologues,” I urge you to attend. We address similar themes of sexuality and sexual violence, but the focus is entirely on the truth about Notre Dame. If “The Vagina Monologues” bothered you, “Loyal Daughters” should be far more upsetting, not because it is or isn’t appropriate or offensive, but because it’s real, it’s here, and it’s now. Sexual violence isn’t unique to Notre Dame, but here at Our Lady’s University, we have the unique capacity to develop effective solutions. It all starts here. See you at the show.

Emily Weisbecker
senior
Lyons Hall

Sounds very laudable. I plan on going to see it tomorrow night.

Of course, because this is Notre Dame, it has caused controversy:

“Loyal Daughters” will debut…without the endorsement of University President Father John Jenkins — a backing it lost after Jenkins viewed the script in early October and found that its occasionally “neutral stance” on premarital sex was “in direct opposition to the Church and Father Jenkins’ position on issues of sexual morality,” University spokesman Dennis Brown said Sunday.

Brown said, however, that Jenkins still “completely supports” the central aim of the play, “which is education and awareness to prevent sexual assault and sexual violence.”

Jenkins’ withdrawal of his endorsement comes seven months after he identified the student-written “Loyal Daughters” as one of the “substantive” results of an inflamed, two-month, campus-wide discussion on academic freedom and Catholic character.

That discussion began on Jan. 23, when Jenkins questioned the annual on-campus presence of “The Vagina Monologues” and other events “in name or content clearly and egregiously contrary to or inconsistent with the fundamental values of a Catholic university.”

On April 5, Jenkins issued a statement that said he would not prohibit future performances of the “Monologues,” but explained that he hoped to focus on two different initiatives to eliminate violence against women - “Loyal Daughters,” and the creation of an ad-hoc committee made up of faculty, students and administrators that would foster “a wide-ranging discussion of gender relations, roles, and ways to prevent violence against women.” …

Without Jenkins’ endorsement, Liddy and Weisbecker said they fear that students who were originally opposed to “The Vagina Monologues” will probably not come to the production. Had it maintained Jenkins’ backing, perhaps they would have considered attending, Weisbecker said.

I hope skeptics will go anyway. It’s one thing to steer clear of the Monologues because they are intentionally outrageous and deliberately shocking in a manner that conservative folks are likely to find offensive. It’s another thing to steer clear of a play that’s apparently making a real effort to engage the Catholic tradition while addressing real, legitimate issues, simply because it ultimately takes a “neutral stance” on certain issues that the Catholic Church is not neutral on. I can understand why Father Jenkins would want to avoid “endorsing” something that doesn’t agree with Catholic doctrine, but that’s no reason to shun it (any more than Catholics must avoid watching all TV shows and movies that aren’t endorsed by the Pope). Staying away from things that are certain to seriously offend you is sensible; staying away from ideas that you’re likely to disagree with, for that reason, is cowardly. And judging a play expressing such ideas, without seeing it, is ignorant.

Anyway, here are some more details on the play — and the associated Thursday-night fundraiser — via e-mail from Lisa.

LOYAL DAUGHTERS: A Play on Sexuality and Sexual Assault as told by ND Students
Monday, November 13th-Thursday, November 16th
7:30 each night at the DPAC
Call DPAC Box Office @ 574.631.2800 to reserve free tickets

Written by Emily Weisbecker
*based on over 55 interviews and numerous written submissions*
Directed by Madison Liddy, Stage Managed by Aine Richards

Sponsored by the Gender Studies Program and a UROP Grant (the Boehnen Award)

Panel Discussions will follow the first three performances (Monday-Wednesday)

Panelists include: Rita Donley, Cynthia Mahmood, James Sterba, James Bellis, Annie Envall, Robin Darling Young, Lynn Bradford, Maura Ryan, and Emily Weisbecker (4 panelists per night)

A Loyal Daughters Benefit will follow the final performance

LOYAL DAUGHTERS BENEFIT
*Celebrate Loyal Daughters performances
*Raise money for SOS and YWCA

WHAT: Semiformal. Hosted by Emily Weisbecker and Madison Liddy. (Not affiliated with the University.) All are welcome!

WHY: Even on the Notre Dame campus, sexual assault happens. The SOS Rape Crisis Center and the local YWCA both serve Notre Dame students and the community with a rape crisis phone line, advocacy, shelter, etc. We’re not allowed to charge for Loyal Daughters tickets, so this is the opportunity to make a donation and make a difference.

WHERE: The elegant Beiger Mansion
317 Lincolnway East, Mishawaka, Indiana 46544
Follow 31/933 South from campus. Continue on 933 when it splits from 31, 933 turns to Lincolnway East, end at 317.
(Call the Beiger at 574-256-0365 if you have trouble finding it)

WHEN: Thursday, November 16, 9:30 PM-12:00 AM

To RSVP: Email Emily.Weisbecker@yahoo.com or confirm attendance on Facebook
(Event: Loyal Daughters Benefit)

Minimum Suggested Donation $5 for Cast
Minimum Suggested Donation $10 for ND/SMC/HCC Students
Minimum Suggested Donation $20 for General Admission

Also: There will be a raffle!