It was déj? vu for sophomore Katie Meyer, president of Una, Saint Louis University’s feminist organization, when she found out that “A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant, and a Prayer,” the V-Day companion piece to “The Vagina Monologues,” would not be allowed to perform on campus.
Una found itself in a similar situation last year, when the Monologues were formally refused both University sponsorship and an on-campus venue in which to perform, due to claims from the administration that after four years of performances, the show was getting redundant and therefore was no longer as effective.
“When they first told me [the new performance was refused, too], I cried,” Meyer said. “I was completely frustrated and disappointed and embarrassed to go to SLU.”
The announcement that “A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant, and a Prayer” was not approved came one week before the performance was scheduled to take place in Tegeler Hall tonight and Saturday, Feb.16. Since then, the action has spurred frustration among V-Day participants and supporters who feel that SLU isn’t showing solidarity with the V-Day mission, to raise awareness and stop violence against women.
Dean of Students Scott Smith disagreed, saying in an e-mail interview that “SLU strongly supports efforts to end violence against women. I firmly believe SLU’s commitment to social justice has never wavered.”
Smith wrote that rather than devising a different way to support this mission, “A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant, and a Prayer” seemed to be simply an “extension of [‘The Vagina Monologues’],” which he said was one reason why the University was refusing sponsorship as they did of “The Vagina Monologues” last year.
Scott also cited Una’s lack of following University procedure when planning its event as a reason for refusing to allow its performance on campus, saying that the administration had only recently found out about Una’s plans for this new production.
“It is unfortunate that this student group chose not to go through this process and reserved space on campus anyway,” he said.
All student organizations are required to seek approval for their events on campus through the office of Student Life, which Una did not do.
“A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant, and a Prayer” Director Emma Schartner said that while she and other members of Una take full responsibility for needing to know what procedure to follow with the University, they appeared to have deviated from the process because they thought it had been approved. Once they received confirmation that Tegeler Hall was booked for their event, they assumed it also meant that they had been formally approved, which Schartner said turned out not to be the case.
“We thought we were going through the correct procedure,” she said, but added later that while they are “frustrated that we cannot hold it on campus, [administrators] are being helpful in bringing forth a new production.”
Meyer said that she realizes now that there was an error in the procedure.
“I understand that not all of it’s on [the Office of Student Life], but I still think it’s really sad,” she said. “I know so many women have experienced being raped or sexually assaulted or a domestic violence situation. For this to be silenced at our university when it’s already so silent in our society, I think it’s completely unacceptable.”
“A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant, and a Prayer” has been moved to March 7 at The Bluebird, which provided a venue for the performance free of charge. Members and supporters of the V-Day campaign plan to both peacefully protest the production’s removal and raise awareness of the event’s new venue plans, today from 12 to 3 p.m. on Grand Boulevard.
All proceeds from both of the V-Day events will be donated to different charities. 10 percent goes toward a charity related to each year’s theme (this year, it is “Women of New Orleans and the Gulf South”).The remaining funds will be split between Karen House and The Women’s Safe House.
