Union Board to show 9-11 film

Nearly two weeks before the presidential elections, Indiana Memorial Union's Whittenberger Auditorium will play what is largely seen as an anti-Republican film. \n"Hijacking Catastrophe: 9/11 Fear and the Selling of American Empire" will be shown free for students at 7 p.m., Oct. 22. Some might think this could elicit protests from Republicans on campus, but nothing could be further from the truth.\n"No. There will be no protests," said College Republicans chairman senior Angel Rivera. "The best aspect of this country is the fact that every single person has freedom of speech. In the U.S., a person can believe what they want to, even if it is crazy," \n"Hijacking Catastrophe" was shown at the Buskirk-Chumley during the summer, but because too many people came to see the show, they had to turn almost 200 people away, according to a statement from the Union Board. The movie examines how a radical fringe of the Republican Party has used the trauma of the 9-11 terror attacks to advance a pre-existing agenda to radically transform American foreign policy while rolling back civil liberties and social programs at home.\nRivera worries movies like 'Fahrenheit 9/11' and "Hijacking Catastrophe" unfortunately might affect the undecided voters. A long time ago, Rivera explained, people thought the world was flat until scientists said it was round. \n"In the same way, people think what these movies show is the truth," he said. "Had the U.S. not conducted pre-emptive strikes on Iraq and eliminated the threat posed by Saddam Hussein, the U.S. would be in great danger."\nPresident of IU College Democrats, sophomore Mandy Carmichael agrees that such movies could potentially have an effect on undecided voters. \n"Hope they don't," she said."People should do their own research and then vote."\nCarmichael believes movies like "Fahrenheit 9/11" and "Hijacking Catastrophe…" should be shown on campus "no matter what the political controversy," but she feels that conservative movies should also be shown.\nCarmichael said "Fahrenheit 9/11" definitely has a slight slant, but also has important messages. \nRivera, however, has a different take on the movie.\n"People have to see it for what it is. It is yellow press, should not be taken as factual and is propaganda," he said. "Moore is a scumbag."\nAt this time, the Union Board film series has not been finalized, so it is not yet decided whether "Fahrenheit 9/11" is to be part of the series, said Sarah O'Brien, IMU Union Board marketing director.\nOne of the interviewee's of "Hijacking Catastrophe," Professor Robert Jensen from the University of Texas will be at the Whittenberger Auditorium to answer questions the audience might have according to a statement. \n"The film as well as the lecture fits within the goal of bringing diverse and educational programming to the IUB campus." said Hashim Hathaway, Union Board films director in the statement. "The program gives students an opportunity to see a different perspective of a major event while at the same time, interact with a well respected member of the academia." \n-- Contact staff writer Hina Alam at halam@indiana.edu .