The House Committee within Rose Hill’s United Student Government unanimously voted Wednesday afternoon to defy the historic ruling of Student Affairs administrators and support members of the Women’s Empowerment group as they seek to perform “The Vagina Monologues” on campus.
This represents the first time the USG committee has voted to support a campus group within the context of a free speech concern. The committee’s ability to make such a vote was a byproduct of USG’s free speech report, which was released last year.
While “The Vagina Monologues” has been performed annually for many years, the only way students have been able to perform it was with the support of the women’s studies department. The club itself has been denied permission to perform the show on campus. Administrators within Student Affairs have said they would allow the group to perform the show if students remove one speech that deals with rape.
Students have declined to remove such speech, citing legal reasons.
Eve Ensler, the world-famous playright responsible for “The Vagina Monologues” and other shows, will be on campus this Friday for Justice is Care: Say Something Beautiful, a free event “focusing on the issues impacting families and children in the Bronx today,” according to the invitation. “As part of the global campaign One Billion Rising for Justice, Justice is Care will provide a platform for community members to come together in solidarity with allies across NYC boroughs.”
With the support of USG, Women’s Empowerment will bring the issue back to school administrators for reconsideration. A representative from USG and Women’s Empowerment were not immediately available for comment.
Connor Ryan
John Bonazzo
Fordham Daily 
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