On Thursday night, an original play titled The Jane Doe Project was performed at Aquinas College. The play was written by Aquinas student Cheyna Roczkowski in December after the Aquinas administration would not allow The Vagina Monologues to be performed on campus due its controversial sexual content.
In response, Roczkowski chose to write a play based on the experiences of Aquinas women (students, faculty and alumni, shared with the student writer and included anonymously in the play), meant to raise awareness about the issue of violence against women.
The play was part of a week of events, including a movie night and letter writing campaign on Aquinas’ campus. Before the performance was a cupcake sale, in which $381 were raised. The proceeds will be divided between several women’s organizations in the area. There was a high turnout, including members of the Aquinas Administration.
The Performance
The play was a series of monologues performed by eight female students dressed in black, all of whom entered the stage saying “I am Jane Doe,” who was established to be a “New Feminist,” a faceless person to represent all women. Silence as the enemy was the theme of the play–its goal to open up conversation about violence against women, and “fight the system” through education.
The stories varied in style and topic: a woman raped by her brother at a young age, a diary entry of a lesbian degraded and raped by a male, a series of letters burned on stage detailing an abusive relationship, a mother and daughter grappling with the daughter having been conceived by rape, and a woman whose sister had to have reconstructive surgery during an abusive relationship. In between were comedic sketches about happy relationships, bad pick up lines, and working out at the gym. There were also various derogatory phrases from around the world highlighted throughout the performance (“Words are for women, actions are for men.”)
The stories were powerful, for their content and the knowledge that they had actually happened to women in the Aquinas community. Although none of the students in the play were experienced actors, all of the parts were read passionately and effectively.
Pro-Choice Advocacy
The Jane Doe Project occurred during the second Pro-Life Awareness Week of the academic year at Aquinas. The abortion issue came up, as one student defiantly stated that being pro-choice does not mean pro-abortion.
Critiques
A running theme throughout the play was the idea of a “New Feminist,” similar to third-wave feminism – the idea that wearing revealing clothes and make up (“high heels, red lipstick, curve accentuating jeans and showing a little cleavage”) should be empowering. Many who identify as feminists, however, would argue that societal pressure to cover their faces with products and wear clothes that reveal their body is extremely disempowering, and prefer not to consume these products.
The play was also hetero-normative, as every romantic couple portrayed (notably the positive, healthy examples as well as the abusive) was heterosexual.
Overall, The Jane Doe Project brought up an important issue, but its message was convoluted by some mainstream societal ideas.
Last week, the Grand Rapids Press reported that Aquinas College–a Catholic university here in Grand Rapids–cancelled a speech by John Corvino, a well-known lecturer and gay rights advocate. Aquinas College cancelled the speech, claiming that the speech “displays an attack on Catholic teaching values.” The cancellation has prompted students at Aquinas to organize to bring Corvino to an alternative venue in Grand Rapids.
Additionally, Corvino has formally responded to the cancellation:
“On April 3, 2008, I was supposed to give a lecture at Aquinas College, a Catholic school in Grand Rapids, Michigan. That morning I was informed that the event was “postponed” so that an appropriate Catholic response could be prepared; one week later, the event was cancelled altogether by order of the school president, C. Edward Balog.
I am very disappointed in President Balog’s decision. For over fifteen years I have traveled to numerous schools, including Catholic schools, to promote rigorous yet respectful dialogue on homosexuality and ethics. My lecture at Aquinas was scheduled months in advance. The organizers knew that, although I disagree with Catholic teaching on the moral status of same-sex relationships, I have no desire to distort that teaching, and I invite response from all sides. When Aquinas officials suggested that a second speaker be present to offer the Catholic perspective, I welcomed that suggestion.
By canceling the event, Aquinas administrators have robbed us all of a valuable teaching moment–one where the Catholic position could be made clear while alternative perspectives were articulated and critically examined, in a spirit of rigorous free inquiry.
I am especially disappointed by President Balog’s explanation that “We want to explore the issue from an academic perspective, not from the perspective of an antagonistic attack to core Catholic values.” Anyone with even a passing knowledge of my scholarly research and public advocacy would recognize this description as a severe distortion of my work. (I would especially encourage members of the Aquinas community to read some of my many columns archived at the Independent Gay Forum website, http://www.indegayforum.org/staff/show/92.html).
Several students are now organizing to invite me to speak later this month at an off-campus location, not paid for by school funds. I look forward to that opportunity, and if it happens, I invite school administrators and other members of the Catholic community to come and present their views. I believe that truth has nothing to fear from serious public dialogue, and I welcome occasions for thoughtful interaction.
John Corvino, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Philosophy
Wayne State University”
At the end of the month, a “nationwide teach-in” called “Focus the Nation” is being planned to raise awareness and encourage action on global warming. The teach-ins–which will be held on January 31–are encouraging a move from discussion and fatalism to action on global warming.
In answering the question “Why Now” the campaign says:
“Over the next decade, critical policy decisions will be made with irreversible consequences for the future. Dr. James Hansen, the top US government climate scientist, believes that if we do not stabilize greenhouse gas emissions soon, we may set in motion a process leading to collapse of the West Antarctic and Greenland Ice sheets, events that would raise global sea levels by over 40 feet, inundating many of the world’s major cities. This of course is just one of the myriad potential consequences of human-induced warming, with regional and global impacts ranging from hurricanes of greater intensity and duration, global water shortages, altered patterns of rainfall, drought and flood, massive forest die-back, and large-scale species extinction.
Students today face many important social, economic, and security issues. Global warming however, is unique, in that if we are to reduce the risk of large-scale, irreversible, world-wide damages, then ambitious–and potentially costly–policy solutions must be undertaken within a very compressed time frame. Failure to act soon increases the likelihood of a swing in global temperatures of Ice Age magnitude within our children’s lifetimes, only in the opposite direction. We have a window of time now to create the foundation for a just and sustainable future.”
As an action goal, the campaign is encouraging emission cuts of 80% below current levels by 2050. Legislators, elected officials, and university administrators around the country are being invited to the events.
Here in West Michigan, events are planned on three area campuses:
Aquinas College
01/29/2008: Green Fair
Location: Aquinas College- Wege Student Center (Lower Level)
Time: 11am to 2pm
Cost: Free
As a part of Aquinas College’s Focus the Nation programming, a Green Fair will be held on Tuesday, January 29th in the Wege Student Center. Locally-owned organizations will be on site with information and products for sale, including a local Art Gallery and Metro Health Hospital. All are welcome!
01/30/2008: “2% Solution” Webcast
Location: Aquinas College- Cook Carriage House (Upper Level of the Moose Cafe)
Time: 8pm
Cost: Free
As a part of Aquinas College’s Focus the Nation programming, a showing of the “2% Solution” will be held on Wednesday, January 30th in the upper level of the Cook Carriage House. “2% Solution” is a live, interactive webcast featuring Stephen Schneider, Hunter Lovins, Van Jones and youth climate leaders. All are welcome! Snacks will be provided.
01/31/2008: Local Lunch: Count your Carbons!
Location: Aquinas College- Wege Student Center (Level 2)
Time: 11:30am-1:30pm
Cost: $6.00 (cash only)
As a part of Aquinas College’s Focus the Nation programming, a local meal option will be served in the Wege Student Center on January 31st. Come reduce your carbon footprint, eat healthy food, and learn all about the benefits of eating locally and the dangers of global climate change. All are welcome!
Calvin College
Tuesday, January 29
* Kick-off event: 8:00 PM– Commons Lecture Hall
* View the newly released film King Corn. Good laughs, great film!
Wednesday, January 30
* Re-Gathering: 9:50 AM – Fine Arts Center
* Dr. Elaine Storkey speaking on Climate Change and the Global Poor
* Webcast: 8:00 Science Building 010 — The 2% Solution
* Focus the Nation will stream a free, live, interactive webcast called The 2% SOLUTION. Join Stanford University climate scientist, Stephen Schneider, sustainability expert Hunter Lovins and green jobs pioneer Van Jones and youth climate leaders, for a discussion of global warming solutions. Audiences can weigh in with cell phone voting. Our goal is 10,000 screenings–and a change in the course of history.
* 9:00 PM –Snow Festival on the Commons Lawn–Embrace the Cold (while you can!)
* Snowman contest, snow tunnels, build an igloo and sleep outside
* Free Snow Cones and Hot Chocolate in Johnny’s
Thursday, January 31
* “Teach-in” activities: All day throughout campus (Click here for schedule)
* Chapel : 10 AM Speaker: Peter Illyn, Director of Restoring Eden
* Belly Button Christianity: Reconnecting Faith to the Miracle of Life
* Round Table Discussion: 3:30-5:00 PM — Bunker Interpretive Center
* Institutional Responses to Global Climate Change: What Can Calvin College Do?
* Moderator: Claudia Beversluis, Respondents: Rick Balfour, Phil Beezhold, Janel Curry, Luke Kenbeek, John Witte.
* Panel with Elected Officials: 8:00 PM–Fine Arts Center
* Solutions for Global Climate Change: Ideas from Policymakers
* Participants: Congressman Vern Ehlers, City Commissioner Rosalynn Bliss, and others
* Concert with Anathallo:9:00 PM -Fine Arts Center
* Tickets: $5 with Calvin ID, $10 General Public available at the Box Office
Grand Valley State University
January 31 – 5:00pm – 10:00pm
Grand Valley’s Student Environmental Coalition brings you:
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS for “Focus the Nation” at GVSU
* 5-6PM: Local Business Fair and Food Reception
* 6-7:30PM: Panel Discussion
* 7:30-9:00: Showing of “The 11th Hour”
* 9:00-10:00: Discussion about movie
In the next few years, we as a nation will make, or fail to make, critical decisions regarding global warming pollution and clean technology investments. These decisions will have far-reaching and irreversible impacts on the lives of today’s students and the lives of their children. At this moment in time, we owe our young people at least a day of focused discussion about global warming solutions for America.
Focus the Nation is an opportunity for university faculty members to hold a discussion with their students on how global climate change not only affects the world at large, but how their professional discipline is interrelated with this issue. The idea is to spark conversation and critical thinking amongst students, faculty and their communities in the hopes of increasing their knowledge of this topic.
Following the classroom discussions we hope that students will join faculty and local community members in a culmination of the day’s events at a panel discussion and movie screening of The 11th Hour.
Currently over 1000 institutions, mostly colleges and universities have signed on to participate, and dozens of college and university Presidents have endorsed the initiative.
For additional information on Focus the Nation and “The 11th Hour,” please visit these sites: http://www.focusthenation.org/ and http://wip.warnerbros.com/11thhour/
