PROVIDENCE — One of the thickest files in the office of the Rev. Brian J. Shanley, president of Providence College, contains articles and letters about — and different versions of — a popular, controversial play he banned from the college last year.

The folder is a half-foot thick.

Father Shanley’s decision last year to prohibit the production of The Vagina Monologues six months into his presidency prompted a debate about academic and artistic freedom, the Catholic Church’s teachings on female sexuality and how those issues mesh with the mission of the Dominican liberal-arts college.

This past fall, students organizing the provocative, sometimes shocking play about female sexuality and sexual abuse asked the college president to reconsider. Their request included a petition signed by 1,200 students, parents, faculty and alumni.

Father Shanley held to his decision.

So for the second year in a row, PC students will stage The Vagina Monologues in a Congregational church in downtown Providence rather than on campus, where it had been presented for four years until being banned. And students plan to protest the president’s decision by holding a rally at the college’s front gates Wednesday afternoon.

But while the disagreement between the college president and the student organizers continues, a subtle shift has occurred.

Both sides say they have benefited from the conversation, which has increased the awareness of sexual assault, one of the play’s main themes.

“I learned a lot about The Vagina Monologues,” Father Shanley said in an interview in his office last week, his hand resting on the half-foot-thick folder.

STUDENTS LAST FALL asked Father Shanley to read a copy of the script, even though he had read an earlier version of the play before making his decision last year. They also gave him a videotape of a performance broadcast on the cable network HBO.

Father Shanley said that, although his position hasn’t changed, he now understands why the play means so much to some people. The videotape, in particular, made an impression.

“My views about it have changed a little bit, based on what I’ve read and seen,” he said. “There are some very powerful narratives in it. It makes you want to cry. If the play were all about violence against women, then I wouldn’t have a problem with it at all. ”

But, he said, the play also advocates a position on female sexuality that the Dominican friar feels is “not consistent with the mission of a Catholic college.” He still objects to particular scenes in the play, including one that describes the seduction of a teenage girl by an older woman.

Patricia Wagner, 21, a PC senior from New Jersey who is directing the play this year, says the play has empowered her and many other female students, and she is frustrated by arguments that the production is unsuitable for her college. Several other Rhode Island colleges are staging the play this year, according to the V-Day Web site, including Rhode Island College, the University of Rhode Island and Roger Williams University. Proceeds from the play go to organizations that help victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence.

“As we go through Providence College, we have this notion we are in search of veritas — which is truth — and we think The Vagina Monologues is a stepping stone in this journey,” said Wagner.

At the same time, she appreciates that Father Shanley agreed to meet with students last fall to explain his position and that he has changed his mind — at least a little — about the play’s value.

“I have a lot of respect for him, because even though he kept to his decision he continued to meet with us,” Wagner said

THE PLAY DEBUTED on Broadway about a decade ago and weaves stories of dozens of women from around the world who have experienced rape, genital mutilation, sexual slavery and incest. New stories have been added in recent years, and some older ones dropped. The ObieAward-winning play, written by Eve Ensler, has been performed in all 50 states and 81 countries.

It is often performed on college campuses around Valentine’s Day, or V-Day, to raise awareness about violence against women. Supporters of the play say it is an effective tool to combat sexual assault at colleges. The controversy about the play caused Providence College to pay more attention to the issue of sexual assault.

PC hosted a week-long series of events last spring — called Project SAVE — to raise awareness about sexual violence and administrators say they will hold it again in April.

About 1,2000 students participated in the events, which included a fundraiser for a women’s shelter, self-defense workshops, performances about rape and incest and a Take Back The Night march.

BUT STUDENT ORGANIZERS say they still want The Vagina Monologues to be a part of raising awareness about sexual violence.

The Vagina Monologues will be performed Feb. 27 and March 1 at 7 p.m. at Beneficent Congregational Church, 300 Weybosset St. Tickets are $5 for students; $10 for others. Questions about tickets can be sent to pcvdaytix@yahoo.com.

Organizers say they expect the 140 seats to sell out both nights.

jjordan@projo.com