YPSILANTI, MI - Eastern Michigan University's Women's Resource Center will no longer host productions of "The Vagina Monologues," noting that the play's version of feminism excludes some women.

The WRC announced its decision in an email, which came after the center evaluated responses from a survey. Survey respondents opposing the production consistently indicated they were concerned that the play centers on cisgender women, that the play's version of feminism excludes some women, including trans women, and that overall, "The Vagina Monologue" lacks diversity and inclusion.

Modifying the script to the play written by Eve Ensler is not an option, due to copyright laws, the WRC stated.

"We feel that making this decision is in line with the WRC mission of recognizing and celebrating the diverse representations of women on campus along with the overall mission of the Department of Diversity and Community Involvement, in which the WRC is housed, of supporting and empowering minoritized students and challenging systems and structures that perpetuate inequities," the email from the WRC said. "We truly believe that it is important to center our minoritized students and this decision is in line with this mission driven value."

The survey was launched as a result of conversations with current students, as well as feedback from a WRC workshop titled "Not all women have vaginas," during the 2017-18 academic year.

According to the WRC, both brought up conflicting ideas and concerns about the effectiveness and relevance of "The Vagina Monologues," an episodic play written by activist Eve Ensler in 1994, offering a series of first-person narratives in which women speak about their vaginas.

"This created a need to ask the question: Do we still need 'The Vagina Monologues?' And, are 'The Vagina Monologues' still relevant to next generation feminists?" the email from the WRC says.

Some survey participants wanting the production to continue said the play is the first introduction into feminism for many, challenging individuals to think differently about a variety of issues affecting women.

The WRC's email noted that "many of the same people" in support of the production felt that the "The Vagina Monologues" should be modified or accompanied by a series of workshops that address the diversity and inclusion that it is lacking.

"It is important to note that due to copyright laws, we are unable to change the script," the WRC's email said.

Representatives from the WRC were not available for additional comment.

EMU is not the first university to reconsider its position in hosting "The Vagina Monologues."

American University's Women's Initiative chose to change the event to the "Breaking Ground Monologues" in an effort to "broaden the focus from specifically female genitalia to multiple identities and bodies."

In 2015, a student group at Mount Holyoke College decided to cancel its annual performance of production, saying the play excludes the experiences of transgender women who don't have a vagina.