February 12, 2008 To: Rev. John Jenkings C.S.C. Office of the President 400 Main Building Notre Dame, Indiana, 46556 From: John K. Probst Re: The representing of the Vagina Monologue production. I have directed plays and musicals as part of my teaching profession for the last 40 years. While directing I have always made it a point to direct productions that would educate, enhance or uplift the values and spirit of the community in which these shows were presented. I have read the Vagina Monologues script, and have seen a production. This play is not quality theater but bawdy burlesque, whose main theme is women's liberation, but inter played to a far greater degree with dialogue accepting and celebrating homosexuality, autoerotic sex, and flagrant fun-making of the female genitalia. Because of the plays carefree attitude with regards to these subjects, it insults women's issues rather than educates, and degrades rather than uplifts moral values. Because of the play's content, I can't image it being produced in Salt Lake City, Rome or any Muslim country. So why has it been and is again being presented in a Catholic University, where the very message of the play is in direct contradiction to the values of the surrounding community in which it is being presented. To say " so as to exemplify, to educate all aspects of an issue" is like validating pornography as an academic study of human sexuality. What's the next production, "The Rocky Horror Show?" This controversy, which now has erupted the Bishop's intent to meet at N.D., should not even exist, and exemplifies just how far the University has fallen down the slippery slope of secularism. My, how far Notre Dame has moved from the halcyon days of Fr. Hesburg's administration. And so with deep feelings of disappointment, disgust, and sadness, I am sincerely, John K. Probst-56'-60'