Spring Break
'An Inconvenient Truth' film causes controversy
Avi Ehrlich
Issue date: 10/3/07 Section: News
Members of Sacramento State's College Republicans club protested UNIQUE's 7 p.m. screening of "An Inconvenient Truth" last Thursday. The screening marked the end of Constitution Week on campus.
The group held signs that mocked former Vice President Al Gore and questioned what the film had to do with Constitution Week, as the film, "The Great Global Warming Swindle," by Martin Durkin, was projected on a nearby wall.
"We feel like the activities, events and entertainment that goes on as part of Constitution Week should be directly related to the history and evolution of the construction," said Kara Greene, president of the College Republicans. "We don't feel that global warming contributes to that, specifically a partisan global warming movie with an agenda that's against the Republican party."
Greene described the screening as "another example of how the school supports outrageous liberal, political agendas on campus" in an e-mail sent to members of the College Republicans.
"This movie promotes civic engagement," said Zenia Diorno, programs adviser for UNIQUE. "Basically trying to make people aware of problems with the earth, or with the climate and the environment, and hopefully motivate them to do something about it."
UNIQUE chose to show the movie because of how popular it was last year, not out of obligation for Constitution Week, Diorno said.
"We're not obliged to do anything (for Constitution Week)," Diorno said. "Our main goal is to bring entertainment to the campus."
UNIQUE hosted panel discussions following two of the screenings for students and faculty to discuss what they had just seen.
A rival group, College Democrats, lingered in the lobby to show support for the film.
"I really don't think climate change is an issue that is related to politics," said Nelly Hayatghaib, director of membership for the College Democrats. "It's on political agendas, but it's not a political ideal. Everyone should care about the environment."
Hayatghaib said she doesn't believe UNIQUE had a political agenda in showing the film.
"UNIQUE is a nonpartisan group that I worked for last year...believe me I know, I tried getting them to push a political agenda and they wouldn't," Hayatghaib said.
A variety of views are represented by UNIQUE, said Scott McCall, a freshman computer engineering major and club member.
"We have at least one Republican...actually we probably have quite a few," McCall said. "We're just showing it for entertainment purposes. It's educational as well as entertainment; we're not here to declare a point."
Some of the College Democrats questioned the protesters' intentions.
"Constitution Week was last week," said Robert Marcelis, a junior government major and member of the College Democrats. "This is just a ploy by the College Republicans to grab attention."
By order of a proclamation from President George W. Bush three years ago, the observance of Constitution Week is legally mandated for all public schools that receive federal funding.
According to the Sac State website, UNIQUE's screening of "An Inconvenient Truth" was an official Constitution Week activity, though all other activities took place the previous week.
UNIQUE drew protesters in 2004 with a screening of Michael Moore's film, "Fahrenheit 9/11," though none of the current UNIQUE members can recall any other events being controversial.
Although dwarfed by the protesters, there were some students in attendance for the film's fourth and final screening of the night.
"I'm just wondering if they've actually seen the movie, not just blindly protesting," said Dennis Sadang, freshman computer science major.
Avi Ehrlich can be reached at aehrlich@statehornet.com.
The group held signs that mocked former Vice President Al Gore and questioned what the film had to do with Constitution Week, as the film, "The Great Global Warming Swindle," by Martin Durkin, was projected on a nearby wall.
"We feel like the activities, events and entertainment that goes on as part of Constitution Week should be directly related to the history and evolution of the construction," said Kara Greene, president of the College Republicans. "We don't feel that global warming contributes to that, specifically a partisan global warming movie with an agenda that's against the Republican party."
Greene described the screening as "another example of how the school supports outrageous liberal, political agendas on campus" in an e-mail sent to members of the College Republicans.
"This movie promotes civic engagement," said Zenia Diorno, programs adviser for UNIQUE. "Basically trying to make people aware of problems with the earth, or with the climate and the environment, and hopefully motivate them to do something about it."
UNIQUE chose to show the movie because of how popular it was last year, not out of obligation for Constitution Week, Diorno said.
"We're not obliged to do anything (for Constitution Week)," Diorno said. "Our main goal is to bring entertainment to the campus."
UNIQUE hosted panel discussions following two of the screenings for students and faculty to discuss what they had just seen.
A rival group, College Democrats, lingered in the lobby to show support for the film.
"I really don't think climate change is an issue that is related to politics," said Nelly Hayatghaib, director of membership for the College Democrats. "It's on political agendas, but it's not a political ideal. Everyone should care about the environment."
Hayatghaib said she doesn't believe UNIQUE had a political agenda in showing the film.
"UNIQUE is a nonpartisan group that I worked for last year...believe me I know, I tried getting them to push a political agenda and they wouldn't," Hayatghaib said.
A variety of views are represented by UNIQUE, said Scott McCall, a freshman computer engineering major and club member.
"We have at least one Republican...actually we probably have quite a few," McCall said. "We're just showing it for entertainment purposes. It's educational as well as entertainment; we're not here to declare a point."
Some of the College Democrats questioned the protesters' intentions.
"Constitution Week was last week," said Robert Marcelis, a junior government major and member of the College Democrats. "This is just a ploy by the College Republicans to grab attention."
By order of a proclamation from President George W. Bush three years ago, the observance of Constitution Week is legally mandated for all public schools that receive federal funding.
According to the Sac State website, UNIQUE's screening of "An Inconvenient Truth" was an official Constitution Week activity, though all other activities took place the previous week.
UNIQUE drew protesters in 2004 with a screening of Michael Moore's film, "Fahrenheit 9/11," though none of the current UNIQUE members can recall any other events being controversial.
Although dwarfed by the protesters, there were some students in attendance for the film's fourth and final screening of the night.
"I'm just wondering if they've actually seen the movie, not just blindly protesting," said Dennis Sadang, freshman computer science major.
Avi Ehrlich can be reached at aehrlich@statehornet.com.
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