Union board to show controversial film

Politically minded students got an extra bonus this week, when, in addition to the first presidential debate, the Union Board announced with little fanfare that the controversial film "Fahrenheit 9/11" would be playing at the Indiana Memorial Union this weekend.\nJunior Hashim Hathaway, films director of the Union Board, said to avoid protest, no posters advertising the movie were displayed during the week.\n"We also had to get a release from the studio to show this while it is still in wide release and did not have time to secure the proper marketing materials," he said.\nHathaway said although the UB is showing the film for pure entertainment value, it is receiving more attention than any other film because its controversial nature.\n"A film is a film at the end of the day, and it is my job as films director to provide the best that film has to offer right now. That is why I am showing 'Fahrenheit 9/11,'" Hathaway said.\nSenior Angel Rivera, IU College Republicans chairman, said he had no reservations about this film being shown on campus. \n"This is a free country. You can say, think and do what you want to do," he said. \nBut, he added, if the Union Board is showing "Fahrenheit 9/11," then it also should show "Michael Moore Hates America," an upcoming film. \nHe expected "a couple of hundred people" to turn up for the movie because of the publicity the "liberal media" has given to it.\nMatt Brunner, political vice president of the IU College Democrats, said he would prefer the movie to be shown a different weekend because of the presidential debate.\n"People who are interested in watching the presidential debate would also be interested in watching the movie," he said. "But Friday and Saturday, I expect the turnout to be large."\nHathaway said the movie was scheduled this week because its upcoming DVD release .\n"I don't show a film on the main film series that has already been released on DVD, as it tends to affect my audience numbers," he said.\nRivera, who watched the film twice, said, "There are only so many times you can hear and see lies." \n"The liberals resorted to lies to get their message through, and that's what's wrong about this film," Rivera said. "A debate should be honest, and (the movie) is not honest."\nBut Brunner said every American should seen the film.\n"It is a well-done film with a lot of work put into it," he said. "It is worth watching, though you cannot take everything at face value."\nBrunner said the film includes many interesting and good points, but the way the points are proven can be seen as controversial.\n"At the end of the day, it is up to the people to decide," Brunner said.\nShowings of the film will be 8 and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Whittenberger Auditorium in the IMU.\n-- Contact staff writer Hina Alam at halam@indiana.edu.