Many people participated in the discussion on bobtmn's diary, University of Minnesota Cancels Agriculture Documentary. The story was horrible - an environmental documentary from a respected university seemingly cancelled because of corporate influence within the University of Minnesota. If you didn't read the diary, I urge you to do so.
But there is good news here in the heartland. It turns out that "Troubled Waters" will be shown after all. More on the flip side...
The University of Minnesota just issued a press release indicating that the originally scheduled screening will take place.
The press release certainly makes it sound like this was an independent decision taken by the Director of the Bell Museum (the organization sponsoring the documentary).
Professor Susan Weller, director of the Bell Museum of Natural History, has this week obtained and had an opportunity to review documents that indicate that a review process for the film had taken place. After reviewing this material, Weller has concluded that there is no longer a need for an additional faculty panel to review the film as announced on Sept. 17. The film is being made available today in the form it was in prior to that announcement.
LOTS of people were upset by the idiotic decision to scrap the documentary. bobtmn's diary had a call to action in it. Did this make the difference? At this point it's impossible to tell. But the documentary will be shown in its original form, which is a great thing. Congratulations to the Daily Kos community for getting the word out and taking a stand. We might have been the force that made a difference!
*** minor update ***
Interested in GOING to the movie? If you're in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, you can!
The screening will be held on Oct. 3 at 4:30 p.m. at the Bell Museum auditorium, 10 Church Street S.E., Minneapolis. Tickets, which are free and available on a first-come-first-served basis, can be obtained by calling (612) 624-9050 or e-mailing belladm@umn.edu.