BSA, Hillel Will Not Sponsor Screening

An upcoming event intended to improve relations between Blacks and Jews on campus does not have Black and Jewish student groups as sponsors.

Some student leaders of those groups yesterday said there had been too little student involvement in planning Monday's event, which includes a screening of "The Liberators," a movie about Black soldiers who liberate World War II concentration camps. The film will be introduced by the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson and followed by a discussion.

Zaheer R. Ali '94, president of the Black Students Association, said he was surprised that neither BSA nor Hillel, the Jewish student group, was asked to sponsor the movie.

"To not include in any official capacity the groups that seem most involved is somewhat problematic," he said, "I think this is an instance where students are not feeling involved in the process."

The Office of the President, the Office of the Dean of Students and the Afro-American Studies department are sponsoring the event.

The panel discussion following the movie will include student representatives from BSA and Hillel.

BSA Vice President Alvin I. Bragg Jr. '95, who will be on the discussion panel, said he was not very surprised that student groups were not requested to sponsor the movie.

"The way the project evolved was from the top down," said Bragg, who has worked with the Dean of Students Office on the project. "My understanding is that a lot of the work they had to do centered on Reverend Jackson."

Dean of Students Archic C. Epps III said the committee planning the movie discussed asking student groups to sponsor the event, but decided against it.

"I think that Hillel offered to sponsor it--it came up in discussion with Rabbi (Sally R.) Finestone (of Hillel)," Epps said. "I decided not to ask any student group to participate."

Finestone was not available for comment. Epps did not specify why he decided not to ask student groups to co-sponsor the event.

Former Hillel chair Shai A. Held '94 said he believes that the sponsorship of University officers will help to increase the film's impact.

"The support of the Office of the President and the Office of the Dean of Students is an important statement of concerted interest on their part," he said.

Jeremy B. Hockenstein '93-'94, a former member of Hillel's steering committee, said Hillel considered sponsoring the film. "There was some discussion if Hillel would cosponsor it if the Black Students Association asked, (but) in no way has Hillel been slighted," he said.

Epps said he believes that students will still be greatly involved with the showing of the movie. "The most important thing is that students are participating on the panel and attending the movie," he said.

Epps said he had seen no negative impact on student interest from the lack of student group sponsorship. "I think we could have distributed twice the number of tickets," he said.

Tickets to The Liberators," which will be shown in Sanders Theatre, sold out Wednesday.

Students in both the BSA and Hillel agree with Epps that interest among undergraduates seems high, despite lack of student sponsorship and recent controversy about the film's historical accuracy. According to an article in The New Republic, many of the soldiers involved in the 761st Tank Battalion and the 183rd Combat Engineer Battalion said their units were not involved in the liberation of Dachau on Buchenwald. The film says soldiers from those battalions were involved in liberating those specific camps.

"I know a lot of people who are scrambling around now trying to go," said Bragg. "I have no measure (for the accuracy, so) I'm looking forward to seeing it."

Jeremy A Dauber '95, the chair of Hillel's Coordinating Council, said he knows of many Hillel members who are planning to attend the movie. "I think people are very excited and optimistic about it," he said.

Some said any inaccuracies the movie may perpetuate are out-weighed by the positive effect on Black-Jewish relations the story is expected to have.

"I think the message I have been told that the movie sends cooperation, establishing dialogue, working together, helping each other--is a very, very important one. I think that message is one that always stands a little learning by everyone," Dauber said.

Ali concurred, but raised another question about the event. Black-Jewish relations are only discussed when an outside speaker visits, he suggested.

"It seems that the only time there is tension is when a controversial speaker is invited. If tension occurs because of speakers like Leonard Jeffries (who spoke last year) and relations occur because of speakers like Jesse Jackson, I think that's very superficial," he said

"I think that Hillel offered to sponsor it--it came up in discussion with Rabbi (Sally R.) Finestone (of Hillel)," Epps said. "I decided not to ask any student group to participate."

Finestone was not available for comment. Epps did not specify why he decided not to ask student groups to co-sponsor the event.

Former Hillel chair Shai A. Held '94 said he believes that the sponsorship of University officers will help to increase the film's impact.

"The support of the Office of the President and the Office of the Dean of Students is an important statement of concerted interest on their part," he said.

Jeremy B. Hockenstein '93-'94, a former member of Hillel's steering committee, said Hillel considered sponsoring the film. "There was some discussion if Hillel would cosponsor it if the Black Students Association asked, (but) in no way has Hillel been slighted," he said.

Epps said he believes that students will still be greatly involved with the showing of the movie. "The most important thing is that students are participating on the panel and attending the movie," he said.

Epps said he had seen no negative impact on student interest from the lack of student group sponsorship. "I think we could have distributed twice the number of tickets," he said.

Tickets to The Liberators," which will be shown in Sanders Theatre, sold out Wednesday.

Students in both the BSA and Hillel agree with Epps that interest among undergraduates seems high, despite lack of student sponsorship and recent controversy about the film's historical accuracy. According to an article in The New Republic, many of the soldiers involved in the 761st Tank Battalion and the 183rd Combat Engineer Battalion said their units were not involved in the liberation of Dachau on Buchenwald. The film says soldiers from those battalions were involved in liberating those specific camps.

"I know a lot of people who are scrambling around now trying to go," said Bragg. "I have no measure (for the accuracy, so) I'm looking forward to seeing it."

Jeremy A Dauber '95, the chair of Hillel's Coordinating Council, said he knows of many Hillel members who are planning to attend the movie. "I think people are very excited and optimistic about it," he said.

Some said any inaccuracies the movie may perpetuate are out-weighed by the positive effect on Black-Jewish relations the story is expected to have.

"I think the message I have been told that the movie sends cooperation, establishing dialogue, working together, helping each other--is a very, very important one. I think that message is one that always stands a little learning by everyone," Dauber said.

Ali concurred, but raised another question about the event. Black-Jewish relations are only discussed when an outside speaker visits, he suggested.

"It seems that the only time there is tension is when a controversial speaker is invited. If tension occurs because of speakers like Leonard Jeffries (who spoke last year) and relations occur because of speakers like Jesse Jackson, I think that's very superficial," he said