Villanova Cancels Workshop by Gay Performance Artist

Villanova University has canceled a week-long workshop by Tim Miller, a gay performance artist whose planned visit had been set up by a professor, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Miller, who has previously appeared at other colleges, including Roman Catholic colleges, said that the university's decision reflected a "coercive, censorious time." The professor who organized the event said that she had been told by the university not to talk about what had happened, and to refer all questions to the press office. The university later issued this statement: "Villanova University embraces intellectual freedom and academic discourse. Indeed, it is at the very heart of our university and our Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition. With regard to the upcoming residency and performance workshops by Tim Miller, we had concerns that his performances were not in keeping with our Catholic and Augustinian values and mission. Therefore, Villanova has decided not to host Mr. Miller on our campus. Villanova University is an open and inclusive community and in no way does this singular decision change that."