“Hey, dude you look like a pimp in those sunglasses.” Welcome to Sonoma State University, Spring 2008 semester. I pricked up my ears when I heard one male student shout those words across the quad to another male student. Here on campus, it’s all about words and these days if you’re male it’s cool to look pimpish. It’s also cool if you’re a woman and you’re in “The Vagina Monologues” – Eve Ensler’s play – which is coming to campus at the end of February. I’ve been at State U. for 25 years and I have never heard the word “vagina” spoken more often and with more pride than right now in public and in what’s called “mixed company” – meaning among men as well as women. In fact, you might say that “vagina” is on everyone’s lips and that the coming of “The Vagina Monologues” to campus has taken whatever sting was still in the word. “Pimp,””Vagina” – students say the darnest things. It ain’t just sex they’re taking about either. You hear the name “Obama” on lips a lot, too, and students seem to think that he has a chance to become the next president of the U.S. of A. Obama’s candidacy has also generated much discussion about race and racism. “I’m not a racist,” one white female student commented in a class. “Don’t say that,” a black female student said to her, and went on to explain that racism ran deep in American society, and that folks who often insist they weren’t racist often were – they just didn’t know it. All this talk about pimps, vaginas and racism just could be contagious, and it makes me wonder what students will be talking about come graduation in May. – Professor Mojo
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