UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio — In the face of John Carroll University canceling its annual drag show, students have organized a petition calling for permission to hold the event and alternatively, set up a GoFundMe account to help cover the cost of an off-campus performance.
The canceling of what would have been the seventh annual drag show on JCU’s University Heights campus was confirmed by a school spokesperson in a statement made to Cleveland.com on Thursday, citing “divisiveness” among the student body.
“We are working with our students on new and more extensive programming that will promote the expression, appreciation and understanding of the many identities represented at John Carroll University,” the spokesperson said.
“We are also engaging with community partners, alumni, and experts to advance the understanding of different points of view related to sexuality, faith, inclusion and respect.”
Leah VanDine, who serves as the John Carroll Student Government Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, told WKYC on Friday, “This is clear discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community on campus.”
When asked whether any students had planned to perform at the now-canceled drag show, VanDine said the groups made the decision to hire professional performers out of concern for their classmates’ safety.
“Members of the LGBTQIA+ community have felt unwelcome and like they’re not truly at home here on campus since the incident that occurred last year,” VanDine said.
The “incident” VanDine is referring to is the Oct. 1, 2018 publication of an op-ed which called the drag show “a flagrant celebration of sexual perversity.”
It was written by Declan Leary, who was then the op-ed editor of the student newspaper The Carroll News. At the time, the school publication stood behind the column as an expression of free speech.
While students resumed classes this year at the private Jesuit Catholic university on Tuesday, VanDine said she first became aware the show would not go on during a meeting with JCU President Michael Johnson on Aug. 28.
VanDine was joined at what she said was a 30-minute meeting by fellow seniors, LGBTQIA+ Allies president Autumn Franz and Student Union Programming Board president Eddie Jenkins, the leaders of the two campus groups that were sponsoring this year’s drag show.
Outside of statements made to media outlets, no official announcement has been made to the student body confirming the cancelation of the event, according to VanDine.
“One of our goals is to get a direct statement on why the university president made this decision, who he consulted with, and why the decision was firm at the time of our Aug. 28 meeting,” VanDine said.
Drag queen Anhedonia Delight, who is not only a JCU alumni but also founded the school's drag show return in 2013 after a 10-year hiatus, told WKYC she had already been booked to perform at the show, which was set to take place on Sept. 14.
"I left the annual drag show as my legacy as the previous president of the LGBTQ student organization on campus," she told WKYC.
"There were never any issues with the event or the programming for the show and I was happy to be the first person invited back as an alum to perform since graduating in 2015. I honestly feel very blindsided by this cancelation."
She added: "This is especially disconcerting given the fact that so many students and faculty who have seen the show in the past have commented about how inspiring it is. The vagueness from the university as to why the show was canceled is incredibly frustrating."
Delight posted a screenshot of the GoFundMe page for an off-campus performance set up by VanDine and fellow student Lauren Phillip with the note, “Wow. When voices turn in to activism.”
Delight also added the hashtag being used by the student activists, #DragforJCU.
"Given what's happening now, if I could do it over again, I may not have attended JCU because the university is openly dismissing the voices and visibility of many oppressed people on the campus," Delight said.
Others have also expressed their disapproval of the university’s decision, weighing in on social media using the same hashtag.
JCU alumni David Young, who according to his Twitter biography is now a PhD candidate at Duquesne University, tweeted on Friday:
“Academic Twitter: John Carroll U (where I earned my MA) decided to cancel the annual drag show bc it hurt the feelings of a few straight, white males. The event is a big deal for the LGBTQ+ community on this conservative campus.”
Alumna Kate D., who is now a political science candidate, tweeted on Tuesday: “The drag show was a tradition and important event that boosted LGBTQ+ visibility on John Carroll's campus. As an alum, I'm extremely disappointed that @jcupresident has made this decision.”
She later added, "Catholic institutions have historically been unnecessarily anti-LGBTQ+. Many orgs, students, and faculty on campus during my time worked tirelessly to tear down this barrier to make JCU a more accepting campus. @jcupresident, this is a HUGE step back."
So far, the students' petition to save the show has garnered 425 signatures.
WKYC has reached out to JCU seeking additional comment on the cancelation of the drag show and is awaiting a reply.
VanDine told WKYC she hopes to hold an off-campus version of the event by the beginning of October, contingent on the amount of donations received.
