THE BIG SCREEN:

Recent movies to be shown in Farley Hall

Kathleen Hillman
Dm Senior Staff writer

Students interested in checking out the recent releases on the big screen won't have to leave the comforts of campus.

Beginning this Friday, the housing department will be showing a series of new movies in Farley auditorium every Friday night during the spring semester. The showings will be of movies that were recently released in theaters, but are not yet on video, according to Director of Student Housing Bill McCartney. They will be shown on a big screen.

With one dollar and a student ID, a student can get a seat to movies like "Three Kings," showing this Friday, "American Beauty," "The Green Mile" and many others right on campus.

There will be two showings, the first at 7:30 p.m. and the second at 10 p.m. For longer movies, like "The Green Mile", times will be adjusted to follow the movie running time.

The idea for a movie night came through a housing department discussion.

"We spent time discussing the needs for activities and social options for students," McCartney said. "The discussion led us to do a movie series."

According to McCartney, the housing department is renting the movies from SWANK Motion Pictures, a company located in St. Louis, Mo. which does movie series on many campuses. Housing will be paying for all of the rights. The movies are sent to the housing department and later sent back after showing.

"It's something common at other universities," said Associate Director for Residence Life Bonnie Reid. "We wanted to do some weekend programming because many people say there's nothing to do on weekends. It will give students something to do."

The money for the renting of the films is coming out of the housing general budget at this time, according to Reid. She said they are hoping to eventually get support from other places and student organizations.

McCartney said that all revenue will go toward a residential scholar scholarship fund.

"In the future we will offer housing scholarships to returning students," McCartney said.

"If the movie series is successful, we will look at doing this again in the fall."

The housing department already has a listing of a dozen movies that will be showing this spring.

"I think it's a good deal because it gives people something to do, and one dollar is a really good price," said Mary Ramsey, a freshman art history major from Athens, Ga. "I would definitely go if something I liked was showing."

Discussion is taking place at this time as to whether food and beverages will be allowed in the auditorium.

According to Reid, the housing department is talking to custodians and physical plant workers to see if cleaning of the auditorium after showings will be possible. Reid said that housing has also talked with the journalism department about the idea, and there will be no problem with allowing food and beverages, as long as trash is cleaned up.

"We hope that we get good attendance and that students enjoy the movies," Reid said. "It provides an alternative to going to the bars. It's on campus, it's inexpensive and those without cars can walk and meet other people."