By
Maya Schechter
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Question-and-answer session about the concept and film
In hopes of making the UA a hate-free community, a few campus groups are bringing "Journey to a Hate Free Millennium," a film and lecture program, to the Memorial Student Union's Arizona Ballroom tonight.
Tonight's two-hour program starts at seven and will include a viewing of the documentary, which is produced and directed by filmmaker Brent Scarpo. A discussion and a question-and-answer session hosted by Scarpo will follow the viewing.
"We want to reach out to people who care about these (hate) issues so they can make a difference in both their personal and the UA community," said Matt Helm, coordinator for leadership development.
The 30-minute documentary includes footage of the funeral of Matthew Shepard, a University of Wyoming student who was killed in 1998 because he was gay, and an interview with his mother, Judy Shepard.
Other interviews include students and parents from Columbine High School, Holocaust survivors, and entertainers such as Elton John and Olivia Newton John, who speak about their experiences with hate crimes and solutions to move past the violence in the world.
"It is an important issue to address as a community, how we can work together to make sure the problem doesn't escalate," said Kathy Adams Riester, Greek Life coordinator.
Riester said that Scarpo's program has a good reputation and she hopes students walk away from the night thinking they have the power to make a difference.
Helm said he is expecting a large turnout of both students and Tucson residents at tonight's program.
"We were very intentional with who we informed, we sent out press releases to major (Tucson) newspapers and television stations," Helm said.
Associated Students Administrative Vice President Tiffany Podbielski said she thinks the program deals with many issues that should interest students on campus.
"As human beings, we need to move towards a society with less hate," Podbielski said.
Helm said the campus organizations want to teach students about the concept of hate and how to eliminate it.
"Our intention in bringing the program to campus is to educate the UA students so we can in turn change the world," Helm said.
The $5000 program was co-sponsored by Arizona Student Unions, the Dean of Student offices, ASUA, Office of Student Programs, Greek Life, Residence Life, University Activities Board, Department of Multicultural Programs and Services and the Panhellenic Association.
