Dear Editor,

Re: Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death

Prior to the appearance of Libby Whelan’s letter of October 8 several students had approached one of the sociology professors inquiring about the movie Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death. These students asked if they could see the movie in class, to which the professor said no, due to the fact that the movie has an Anthropological bent to it. We, the elected representatives of the Sociology/Anthropology student body, felt that if students wanted to see this movie they should be able to, sos we seta date and time to show the movie. This movie was to be shown after day class hours, at 7:00 pm in the Sociology/Anthropology/Religious Studies lounge. The post- -ers advertising this were put up on Thursday, October 15. On Monday, October 19, Dean Campbell approached the executive of the Soc/Anth club to inform us that there had been a com- plaint laid by several students and a female faculty member. These people were concerned about the content of the film, and did not feel that we should show it. The Dean asked us to make some concessions, so that he could help avert any ill feelings. We refused to cancel the movie; however, we did postpone the showing and promised not to advertise it. He also asked us to restrict the showing to Sociology and Anthropology majors, to which we did not agree, because we felt that there were non- majors who also wanted to see this movie. At 7:00, on the night that the movie was to be shown, three non-biased, and non-major students arrived to see the movie. These students had hoped to form their own opinions, and because of the pressures made by these protesters they were denied this right. We then ap- proached one of the students involved, and suggested that both

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groups involved have a quiet sit-down talk to see what every- one’s opinions were. We agreed, in good faith, to meet with the students on Friday, October 23, at2:30 pm, so that they could voice their concerns to us directly. At approximately 9:00 am on the day of the meeting one of the students called the Presi- dent of the club to inform him that they wanted to delay the meeting by a week and invite a professor from each department, as well as a mediator, whom they had already chosen. They also wanted to view the movie at that time. We, the executive, declined this for the following reasons:

1) Weagreed to meet with them ata specific time as students, and students alone, in order to have a rational discussion. This means no professors, no mediator.

2) By calling an eleventh-hour delay they are saying to us ‘““We will meet you, but only when you agree to our terms.””

3) They were not willing to talk to us, they wanted to see the movie and discuss it. This could have taken anywhere from three to four hours. If some of the complainants had not seen the movie, why were they complaining?

Weare expressing our right to Academic freedom by showing this movie. We firmly believe that people can make their own choices, and we are not forcing anyone to watch the movie, aw¢ are simply letting people form their won opinions. For thes¢ reasons, we will show the movie.

As a department with a majority of females we are outraged by the actions of those who have appointed themselves as ou! liberators. The women of this department are sick and tired of the high-handed, patronizing tone of those who call themselves Feminists. You do not speak for us. Do you honestly feel tha! we are so stupid as to let our paternal professors negatively influence our self image as women? They have never attempted this, and we are proud to stand with them. Do youreally feel tha! we are so gullible that we cannot think for ourselves? We ar disgusted by you. We feel that there is nothing wrong with this movie, and we are insulted and offended by you; you who hav¢ declared yourselves censors and obviously against Academic Freedom. How dare you say that you represent women? Yo! don’trepresentus. Who gave you the power to tell us what we may or may notdo? We know that you do not have this divin’ power. If youreally do support women let us think for ourselve>

The Executive of the Sociology/Anthropology Society