‘Monologues’ Banned
THE NEW YORK TIMES, Jan. 21 — St. John’s University in New York has decided that Eve Ensler’s controversial play “The Vagina Monologues” will not be performed on campus.
Staging of the feminist play has generated protests at several Catholic college campuses. St. John’s senior Alisha Brizicky had sought approval to stage three performances as part of a festival to raise money to prevent violence against women. “We fully support the value of raising awareness and education on systematic violence against women,” Father James Maher, the university’s vice president of student affairs, said in a statement, The Times reported. “As part of our obligation to the entire university community, we also reserve the right not to support student life activities that we deem inappropriate.”
No to Bush Library
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, Jan. 22 — The University of Dallas has dropped its bid for the George W. Bush Presidential Library. Frank Lazarus, president of the Catholic university, said “it was in the best interest of all concerned” that the school concentrate instead on other development plans, the Morning News reported. The library’s selection committee had previously named Southern Methodist University as its preferred pick for housing the presidential library.
Papal Preacher Visits
SETON HALL UNIVERSITY, Jan. 19 — Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher to the papal household, will lead an evening of spiritual renewal on Ash Wednesday at Seton Hall’s Walsh Gymnasium in South Orange, N.J. The Feb. 21 event is co-sponsored by People of Hope, a Catholic charismatic community.