A 'scary movie' for everyone
By Hannah Benoit
Can a film save the world? Maybe not, but the students of Biology 201, "Environmental Science," see it as a step in the right direction.
The film in question is An Inconvenient Truth, a 2006 documentary that portrays the quest of former Vice President Al Gore to wake up the world to the worldwide crisis of global warming. With the film set to be released on DVD later this month, the students and their professor, Elizabeth Mallory, want everyone on campus to see it.
They're making it very "convenient" too. The class has arranged to show the movie at Wheaton 16 times over a period of two weeks, beginning Nov. 29.
"Global warming is the most serious environmental challenge humans have ever faced," Mallory said. "There will be huge costs to society for generations, and we need to fix it now. There is no longer any debate among scientists; not only are the links connecting increasing greenhouse gases, warming of the earth, and climate change undeniable, but the dynamics of all manner of systems (ecological, social, and economic) are already measurably impacted."
Serving as a call to battle, the film presents scientifically-based arguments for the severity of global warming. Directed by Davis Guggenheim, it was released to critical acclaim last summer and soon gave new meaning to the phrase "scary movie." But although the film warns of a grim future if the world fails to act soon, it has also been described as inspiring and full of hope.
At the beginning of the fall semester, Mallory told her students that she wanted all of them to see the movie, "because global warming really now trumps all other environmental and conservation issues," she said. When she learned that the film was soon to be released on DVD, she asked the students if they would like to help organize and promote a number of screenings on campus.
Several students volunteered to help publicize the film project, and "everybody is going to help post fliers and announce the shows in their classes," Mallory said, adding that members of Tri Beta, the biological honor society, plan to organize a campus discussion about the film.
An Inconvenient Truth will be shown in the Science Center's Hindle Auditorium (seating capacity 200) at the following times. Admission is free. Note that a few classes are planning to attend specific screenings.
| Screening | Date | Time | # Attending |
|---|---|---|---|
| (1) | Wed., Nov. 29 | 11:30 AM | BIO 201 (20 students) |
| (2) | Wed., Nov. 29 | 7:00 PM | |
| (3) | Wed, Nov. 29 | 9:00 PM | |
| (4) | Thurs., Nov 30 | 10:40 AM | Norton High School (55 students) |
| (5) | Thurs., Nov. 30 | 3:35 PM | PHYS 160 Geology |
| (6) | Thurs., Nov 30 | 7:00 PM | BIO 111 Biology (about 90 students) |
| (7) | Fri., Dec.1 | 11:30 AM | |
| (8) | Fri., Dec. 1 | 3:35 PM | |
| (9) | Sat., Dec. 2 | 2:00 PM | |
| (10) | Sat., Dec. 2 | 4:00 PM | |
| (11) | Sun., Dec. 3 | 2:00 PM | |
| (12) | Sun., Dec. 3 | 4:00 PM | |
| (13) | Mon., Dec. 4 | 12:30 PM | REL 242 (58 people) |
| (14) | Mon., Dec. 4 | 7:00 PM | |
| (15) | Mon., Dec. 4 | 9:00 PM | |
| (16) | Tue., Dec. 5 | 3:35 PM |