A letter I hoped never to have to write

Dear Saint Mary's Faculty and Administration:

I was appalled to learn, from "The Observer," that actress Sigourney Weaver was teaching class and speaking to Saint Mary's students on September 26th.

As an alumna who has regularly contributed to Saint Mary's over the 25 years since my graduation, I am seriously questioning my ability to continue to give when speakers whose highly public views on abortion, contraception, and sexual integrity are directly contrary to Church teaching are invited to speak on campus. Granted, as the spouse of a government employee and mother of six children, two of whom are presently college students, I am not, and cannot ever be, your largest contributor, but I have contributed faithfully over the years in the hope of helping in a small way to make a Saint Mary's education possible for today's young women. If SMC, however, is no longer providing a truly Catholic education, ensuring that Catholic teaching is presented in all its fullness and beauty to her students, and if opposing views are presented in teaching and lecturing situations, then my donations will be better spent at other schools who are committed to protecting their Catholic identity.

I would appreciate a response from Saint Mary's regarding this issue. It is my greatest hope that Ms. Weaver was speaking about careers in acting or film or on almost any other topic than those above-listed subjects upon which she has so publicly expressed her deadening views.

Very truly yours,
Judith Gibbons Riordon
SMC 1986

Update 1/10/12: 
On November 22, 2011, I received the following response from SMC. I'm not particularly satisfied with it, but I'm not particularly surprised by it either.

"Dear Judith:  I am sorry for the delay in responding to your question about Sigourney Weaver.   Ms. Weaver was here as the Margaret M. Hill visiting artist this year.  She spent one day with our theatre majors teaching two master classes in acting.  She also spoke to a full house in O’Laughlin Auditorium that evening about her career.  She spoke exclusively about her career in the theatre and movies.  She had breakfast with President Mooney the following morning and shared with her that she was raised by atheist parents.  She also shared that she felt a real sense of spirituality in the students and everyone she met here.  She even asked if there were any books in the bookstore that she might purchase on Holy Cross spirituality.   Everyone who met her enjoyed her down to earth attitude and attention to the students.  I hope that this answers your questions about her visit to Saint Mary’s.  Thank you for your long time support of Saint Mary’s.  I send warm wishes to you and your family for a blessed holiday season.  Susan Dampeer

Susan Combs Dampeer ‘72

Assistant to the President

134 Le Mans Hall

Saint Mary’s College

Notre Dame, IN  46556

Phone: 574-284-4601

Fax:       574-284-4800"

 I'm happy that SMC students might have a positive effect on Ms. Weaver, but frankly, am more concerned about the fact that she sets a less-than-positive example for them.


So now I need to make a decision. Do I 
a) make my promised annual contribution anyway?
b) make the contribution, but specify it for Women's Choir Only (which is what I did during the V-Monologue years)?
c) send the money to a more faithfully Catholic college?

I'm torn. I loved my time at Saint Mary's in so many ways, but the worldly focus there (and admittedly, my openness to it) left some emotional/spiritual scars. I have done at least one thing already (besides prayer) to try to mitigate that for current students. 

The questions are: Do I help perpetuate the worldliness (if that is even the right word) if I contribute to the Annual Fund? Is it better to stay involved and try to instigate change from within? Yikes! I don't know. 

What would you do??