To the Editor: New space, same commitment to Monologues

To the Editor:

Re: “Ahhh! Real Pussy Monsters Attack!,” News, Feb. 19

For most of the eight years I have been Director of Cornell United Religious Work, the Vagina Monologues have been held at the Anabel Taylor Auditorium because CURW supports the message and advocacy on behalf of women integral to the Monologues. In an academic environment that prizes free inquiry and a broad spectrum of ideas, the Vagina Monologues — which challenge traditional views of sexuality — provide an important voice to campus and community discourse. Hosting this event in the Anabel Taylor Auditorium reflects the CURW commitment to contributing to the educational mission and intellectual life of Cornell University.

Yet, as the University’s umbrella organization for religious organizations that have made significant and progressive contributions to this campus community for 80 years, CURW must also take into consideration the sensibilities of those in the religious community who use Sage Chapel for worship as well as a much broader — and often non-religious — campus community that frequent the Chapel daily for reflection and quietude, especially in these economically perilous times. This is an important provision to make on a campus that buzzes with nonstop frenetic activity. Additionally, apart from musical concerts, the Chapel is not the optimum venue as a performance space. These aforementioned factors led to the decision to change the location of the Monologues from the Chapel, where it was originally scheduled, back to Anabel Taylor, the campus multifaith center for which CURW is also administratively responsible. To interpret this change in venue as an act of censorship of the Vagina Monologues is to miss the point.

CURW is providing the Anabel Taylor Auditorium free of charge for two performances of the Monologues on March 7. The two shows, if filled to capacity, will produce receipts from 720 attendees. Aware that the 720 seats for the two productions falls 100 seats short of Sage Chapel’s 820-seat capacity, CURW is also contributing $500 to the student organization co-sponsoring the Monologues. Budgetary constraints in a time in which the University is faced with severe economic challenges preclude a more generous financial donation for an effort which proceeds supports the local Women’s Advocacy Center.

It is unfortunate that the recent discourse, in print media and by word-of-mouth, about the locus of the 2009 Vagina Monologues has obscured CURW’s history regarding this program and, most importantly, the Monologue’s efforts to speak in women’s voice about women, to support women globally and the initiatives that protect women from violence and ensure their empowerment.

Kenneth I. Clarke, Sr., D.Min.

Director, Cornell United Religious Work