Straight From the Board

In this issue, President of the Alumni Board of Directors Richard A. Nussbaum II ’74, ’77JD, responds to the decision to allow the on-campus performance of The Vagina Monologues.

Introduction

One of the cornerstones of your Alumni Association is to “Connect” with all Alumni. (The other two are to “Nurture” and “Give Back”). The ND Today Straight from the Board platform is a great way for us to “Connect,” especially when issues of interest and importance arise.

I am now two-thirds of the way through my term as president and cannot believe how quickly it has gone, or how much I have learned about our great University. Many of you told me as I began this journey the most important thing I could do is to make the Catholicity of Notre Dame a priority in everything we do as an association, and to represent that sentiment both to the Trustees and to the University administration.

My two predecessors are quick to point out during their terms the Irish went to two BCS bowls and emphasize the only difference in the equation from the past two years among coach, University president, athletic director, etc. has been NDAA president. My response is to proudly say, “Yeah, but I lead you both in Beatifications.” Given the choice I will take the latter every time.

One of the things that I have learned during this year is the importance of Blessed Father Basil Moreau to our history. He is my new hero. Here is a man who overcame many overwhelming odds to establish the Congregation of Holy Cross and a vision for teaching that combines educating the heart and mind. This unique philosophy lives in both mission and reality at Notre Dame to this day.

I don’t know what Father Moreau would say about the current controversy concerning The Vagina Monologues, but I am sure he would say it with respect and patience. Here is a man who showed both respect for--and obedience to--his principles and the mission of Holy Cross, as well as to those of the institutional Church. Father Jenkins is such a man as well.

Background Facts

Since our last issue of ND Today, a request to have a performance of The Vagina Monologues has been made and meandered its way through the process outlined by Father Jenkins in April 2006. This process was outlined in his statement, which you can read here.

I encourage each of you to review this statement. Whether or not you agree with it, the statement was the product of an extensive and open, campus-wide discussion that attempted to balance our Catholic identity, character and mission with the academic freedom any great university must possess. Clearly, a difficult task to accomplish under any circumstance, especially given the fact The Monologues had been performed publicly on campus a number of times prior to Father John assuming his role as president.  

The obvious intent of the statement was to bring a controversial work into a more academic setting where it would be juxtaposed against the Catholic perspective. In 2006 the play took place in such a setting. It was not performed on campus in 2007. In a statement released by Father Jenkins on Monday, March 10, 2008, it was announced The Monologues will be performed in 2008 consistent with the 2006 guidelines before the end of this academic year.

In this edition of ND Today, you will find a link to Father Jenkins’ statement. Please take time to review it as it describes the history of his 2006 statement about academic freedom at Notre Dame and its applicability to the present request for the performance of The Monologues.

The potential for the performance of this play, even in an academic setting, has caused a renewal of the discourse which occurred back in 2006, and also was a factor in a decision to move a conference for U.S. Bishops jointly sponsored by Notre Dame’s Institute for Church Life (ICL) off campus in February.

As your president, I felt a responsibility to investigate the facts about the performance of the play, the decision to move the ICL conference for the Bishops off-campus, accept comments and reaction, provide context, and finally to provide you a report.

My Investigation

Although not nearly as extensive as the discussion conducted by Father John in 2006, I did solicit and review information and comments from the University community, our current and former Alumni Board members, Project Sycamore, and many other alumni across the country. My last conversation took place Friday afternoon with Father Hesburgh, who, as you can imagine, provided a fascinating perspective.

There were many viewpoints, all very heartfelt and persuasive. The strength of our alumni is their passion on behalf of Notre Dame. However, some comments were based on what I believe to be misinformation about the decision to move the ICL conference off campus, which I need to address before I conclude.

The implication drawn by some about this decision was it was meant to be punitive and reflects a strained relationship between the Bishops and Notre Dame. As I have come to know this implication is incorrect.

The ICL Conference

The University, through the ICL, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Doctrine co-sponsored a conference on “The Eloquence of Preaching.” The conference was held in mid February and was intended to take place on campus. This conference is one of many which have already been held--and will be held in the future--between the ICL and the USCCB. An important fact which shows the collaboration between Notre Dame and Bishops, and the high regard the Bishops have for the ICL.

Due to the Bishops’ concerns about the potential presentation of The Monologues on campus later in the semester, the Bishops and the University agreed, in the spirit of mutual respect, to relocate the conference to an off-campus venue. Notre Dame was involved in implementing the necessary arrangements to move the conference, and the conference took place with Notre Dame’s continuing involvement through the ICL.

Father Jenkins concelebrated Mass at the conference and shared dinner with the local Bishop and Cardinal Levada, the keynote speaker. Despite the change of plans for the conference, it was hardly a situation which has been described by some as a “shun” by the Bishops directed at Notre Dame. In the same manner, Father Jenkins’ heartfelt statement reflects his deep respect for the Bishops. The resolution for the conference, and the expressions by Father Jenkins, I suggest are totally consistent with the traditions of Blessed Father Moreau.

The Future

Another interesting aspect of the past few weeks has been the commentary by students in The Observer. I think they provide some valuable insight and potential solutions to balance the University’s need for a meaningful exchange of ideas any great institution of higher learning must have, while at the same time being loyal to our Catholic identity, character and mission. In the February 22^nd edition of The Observer, Stephen Brant, a sophomore accounting major, wrote:

“If I were a doctor, I would write Notre Dame a prescription of judicious moderation and reasoned discussion. Nothing is inherently wrong with anyone’s ideas, but we need to be reasonable in our approach. Maybe we should present an altered version of The Vagina Monologues that doesn’t promote lesbianism and appear like soft-core pornography, so we can celebrate femininity instead of objectifying it… While it sounds difficult and improbable, it is possible as none of our objectives are mutually exclusive. We can have it all. We can overcome extremism and partisanship to solve the problems we face in our lives, on our campus and in our nation. You just need to have faith and some moderation.”

I encourage each of you to carefully consider these facts and circumstances in the context of the hundreds of events at Notre Dame, which are 100% in lock step with our Catholic identity, character and mission. Examples are the daily hall Masses, film series, respected Catholic speakers, Campus Ministry retreats, other ICL programming for ACE, the Satellite Theological Education Program and the ECHO Faith Formation program. There are many others which could be listed as well.

As an Alumni Association, we have made a conscious effort to nurture our Catholic traditions through the many service initiatives by our ND clubs, Masses organized around club activities, and our pray.nd.edu website, which has had more than 100,000 visitors since its inception last spring. The prayer opportunities have been a valuable resource for our alumni and a source of comfort to many. It also allows our alumni to be united in prayer with the green candle at the Grotto, not to mention the opportunity to visit sacred spaces on campus each day and enjoy a reflection of the day and the gospel for the day.

I suggest this context shows the performance or the non-performance of The Monologues does little to add to or subtract from our Catholic identity, character and mission. I am always impressed with the passion of our alumni and the zeal with which we seek to protect the best our University has to offer. I have no problem with the dialogue about The Monologues and its place on our campus--I just don’t think it should be the litmus test for our Catholic identity, character and mission. I also have no doubt Father Jenkins, the fellows, Trustees, and officers of the University have as a top priority the preservation of our Catholic faith on campus.

Remember you are the ambassadors for our University throughout the world. I ask that despite different viewpoints, we remain one family and if those outside or inside the family choose to criticize us we can provide the appropriate context.

Finally, as ambassadors of the University take this message to those who would raise questions about Notre Dame, a message which Father Hesburgh gave to me to give to you as I left his office Friday afternoon: “We are the greatest Catholic University in the world--no one is even close to us.”