The St. John’s production was to coincide with V Day, a worldwide event to end violence against women. The play, which was written by Eve Ensler and ran off Broadway starting in 1996, is traditionally presented around Valentine’s Day, especially on college campuses. Money raised goes to domestic violence programs.
   Brizicky, 20, of New Hampshire, had hoped to put on “The Vagina Monologues” in late February.
   “It is such a fantastic charity event to raise awareness about violence against women,” she said. “It’s upsetting the university didn’t see it that way.”
   The Rev. James Maher, vice president of student affairs at the Jamaica Estates campus, said the university took great care in weighing the issues, “and concluded that the performance, by its very nature, was unsuitable subject matter in keeping with Catholic teachings and our Vincentian mission.”
   Despite turning down the play, Maher said St. John’s supports raising awareness and education about violence against women “and we will continue to provide resources to this end with programs and services each year.”
   Brizicky started working with the university in September to stage the production and was systematically turned down by officials. In mid December, her final appeal was rejected. “But I still don’t think it’s a done deal,” she said.
   She is appealing to faculty members to sponsor the event as an academic activity. “If it’s not a student activity, the university can’t censor it,” Brizicky added.
   If all else fails, she is seeking an off campus venue. “I am reaching out, but I’d prefer it to be shown on campus,” she said.
   The play features monologues by a variety of female characters, describing stories involving their vaginas. They range from a girl’s first menstruation to female mutilation in Africa.
   An unscientific poll taken by the student newspaper, The Torch, showed that 51 percent of students wanted “The Vagina Monologues” shown on campus.