Villanova University this week cancelled an upcoming workshop by a nationally renowned gay performance artist, citing the series’ incompatibility with the Catholic tradition of the college.
Tim Miller was scheduled to deliver a weeklong series of self-discovery exercises in April that were meant to enhance the students’ performance skills but was notified Sunday that the event was cancelled — a decision reportedly handed down by university president the Rev. Peter Donohue.
The university released a statement this week explaining that it had “concerns that [Miller’s] performances were not in keeping with our Catholic and Augustinian values and mission.”
Miller’s public performances are known for their edginess, with the inclusion of occasional nudity and simulated sex acts, although this series was meant to be academic in nature.
While his work is controversial, Miller has presented at a number of religiously affiliated institutions, including DePaul University in Chicago, the nation’s largest Catholic university.
Villanova went on to note in its statement that the school “embraces intellectual freedom and academic discourse” and that it is an “open and inclusive community.”
The university did not respond to a request for further comment by PGN.
Jason Landau Goodman, executive director of statewide LGBT youth agency Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition, said the university’s decision appears antithetical to its mission of being “in search for world peace and justice.”
“Villanova University administration should reverse its decision to deny its students the opportunity for exploration and learning within the Catholic tradition,” Landau Goodman said.
Julia Arduini, PSEC co-founder and co-head of Villanova’s Gay Straight Coalition, said the decision is surprising considering the welcoming environment she’s experienced at the university.
Last year, she noted, about 300 students, faculty and staff, including some Augustinian friars, participated in the production of a university “It Gets Better” video, and she said the coalition has seen support from the university president.
While the cancellation of Miller’s series may not have solely centered on his sexuality, Arduini speculated that it may have played a role.
“I don’t think it’s exactly, ‘You can’t come because you’re gay,’ but more his being gay is what sparked their attention and they dug deeper and found excuses based on the Catholic church,” she said. “I don’t think this would have been nearly as much of an issue if he wasn’t gay. I think that’s the reason this was brought to the forefront.”
Arduini said coalition members are both “angry and upset” at the university’s actions and are awaiting further clarification regarding the reasons for the cancellation before deciding on a course of action.
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].