CONFLICT
continued from page 1
plans to meet again.
About 20 people attended the event, which was scheduled
months before the weekend protests.
Forum participants debated racism, sexuality, weight definitions
of feminism, age and indusivity in the production, as well as the fu
ture of'The Vagina Monologues" at the University.
"I'm so sorry," assistant director Natalie Mays said as tears
ran down her cheeks. "I feel so guilty for not representing peo
ple and all the women. That's all 1 wanted to do is create a safe
space for women."
Mays later defended her dedsions, saying that she was proud of
the show and her work, and added that she did her best to be indu
sive given constraints on the production.
She said she and show director Katie McClatchey — who did not
attend the forum — cast based on a pool of about 85 women who
tried out for the production.
Forum participants said the play's producers could have done
more outreach to get more types of women to try out. They also sug
gested that in the future organizers could have more kinds of women
involved in producing the play, along with more community wide dis
cussions about concerns regarding the play. They also suggested that a
forum be held after each night's show to immediately address issues
about the production.
The show's producer, Gum Simrat Khalsa, suggested what she
called a "V-Board," which would represent a diversity of women and
address concerns raised in the forum before work begins on next
year's production.
She said she felt good that people came and gave feedback.
"rhe Vagina Monologues' often brings up issues that are really
close to people," she said. "It brings up a lot of loaded subjects."
Senior Sarah Blustein, who attended the forum and also
protested the production during the weekend, said she tried
out for the play and was called back but decided not to partici
pate. She and others at the forum said they felt that the play's
environment was not welcoming to all types of women. Blus
tein identified herself as a queer Jewish feminist.
"('The Vagina Monologues') is one of the few ways that we
as a society look at women and talk about sexuality, but in this
particular case we weren't looking at what we hear when we say
'women,'" she said.
She said she was upset that women of color, overweight women
and gay women were underrepresented in the play or not represent
ed at all.
Blustein said she felt like the forum addressed some of the
demonstrators' concerns, but more dialogue about women's issues
in the play is needed.
Senior Lezlie Frye said the issues in the show need to be un
derstood within the context of greater societal problems sur
rounding sexuality, gender and racism.
"Nobody here is a bad person," she said. "Nobody here failed
at the show. We failed as a community."
Contact the city/state politics reporter
at nikacaiison@dailyemerald.com.
Lauren Wimer Photographer
LEFT:' The Vagina Monologues” assistant director Natalie Mays (center) expresses her sadness as she apologizes to the women who felt unrepresented
Producer Guru Simrat Khalsa (left) and cast member Judith Friedman (right) watch Mays’ apology.
RIGHT: Women’s and gender studies major Lezlie Frye was a demonstrator at the weekend “The Vagina Monologues" protest. Frye also opened the
nightly productions with an original poem, “An Argument for Cunt Revolution."
VETO
continued from page 1
that into account," Andries said.
ASIJO Finance Coordinator Mike
Martell said the Executive did not
contact the Emerald about the veto
because it did not think the group's
presence was necessary unless a new
hearing was called to discuss the
budget further.
The Executive's veto also appeared
to irk PEC Chairman Adrian Gilmore,
who said he didn't understand why
the Executive's position on the Emer
ald's budget was so "adversarial." He
added that even though the right to
veto is at the discretion of the Execu
tive, he felt it was inappropriate for it
r
to specifically target the Emerald's
budget considering PFC opted to de
viate from the Executive recommen
dation on a number of student-group
budgets. PFC's allocation for the
Emerald was $14,004 more than the
Executive recommendation.
"The (ASIIO Executive) does not
tell us what to do," Gilmore said.
But Morales said the veto was nec
essary and that PFC could best serve
students by incorporating the Emer
ald readership survey into the budget
allocation formula.
"1 think it provides more than
enough information for you to make
a funding decision," Morales said.
Gilmore said PFC acted responsi
bly by not incorporating the reader
ship survey, and he appeared
irritated by the Executive's continu
ing opposition to the committee's
decision. When Morales asked him
to explain the funding formula
again, Gilmore slowly and deliber
ately recited the numbers with a hint
of exasperation in his voice.
PFC member Toby Piering said he
didn't like the Emerald's allocation,
but the committee needed to uphold
its decision.
"All seven of us were there when we
voted on the Emerald, and I think our
decision as a committee needs to
stand," Piering said.
ASUO President Maddy Melton,
the only individual who has power to
veto a budget allocation, was not pres
ent at the meeting. Melton was sched
uled to appear before the ASUO
Constitution Court at 6:30 p.m.
The veto, which was issued by
Morales and Martell, was ultimately
overridden by the needed two-thirds
PFC majority.
After confirming the Emerald's
budget, the committee approved its
overall allocation of student-inciden
tal-fee funds for 2004-05 at
$4,889,672, a 1.2 percent increase,
and $ 107,141 under benchmark.
"This has definitely been a very try
ing process and 1 think the committee
did a very good job," Gilmore said.
PFC will present its budget to the
ASUO Student Senate on Feb. 25
for approval.
Contact the news editor
at jennrferbear@dailyemerald.com.
CAMPUS
Tuesday
Human Resources Workshop entitled
“Leadership in Student Supervision,” EMU
Walnut Room, 9 a.m.-noon, pre-registra
tion required.
Officers of Administration Annual Meeting,
Knight Library Browsing Room, 10
a.m.-noon,
refreshments provided.
CSWS Lecture entitled “Globalization and
International Migration: The Case of Cen
tral American Immigrants in Los Angeles,"
EMU Fir Room, 3-4:30 p.m.
Community Conversations, Dunn Hall
Lounge, Hamilton Complex, 7:30 p.m.
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