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University of South Dakota faculty following CAIR’s lead wants to censor showing of Honor Diaries.
The email for this article was deactivated after the showing date of the film.
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The University of South Dakota Biennial Women and Gender Research Conference is airing the movie titled Honor Diaries on April 10, 2015 from 1:45 – 3:00 PM at MUC 216.
The University of South Dakota Women and Gender Conference program describes Honor Diaries as “This award-winning documentary exposes the systematic abuses of women in honor-based societies including forced marriage, female genital mutilation, and limited right to education.”
The Associated Press reports:
Film provokes debate at USD about censorship and tolerance
VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) — A University of South Dakota professor is refusing calls to cancel the screening of a documentary that depicts brutality against Muslim women.
The "Honor Diaries" is to be screened at the university's annual women and gender conference April 10. But another screening of the film that was supposed to take place Sunday didn't happen for reasons unknown, and there is pressure from some staff and faculty members to cancel next month's showing.
Some staff and faculty members want the showing canceled, the Argus Leader reported (http://argusne.ws/1HWAG5n ). The film goes against USD's desire for "inclusive excellence," said Musheera AnisAbdellatif, a professor in the health sciences department.
A student group called the Association for Advancement of Women's Rights agreed to sponsor the film but later withdrew its support.
Conference coordinator Miglena Sternadori, a media and journalism professor, said she won't bow to the pressure because the film depicts issues that are relevant to the conference. "It's just the wrong thing to do to censor a movie," she said.
The film features women activists who work in a culture that condones female genital mutilation, forced marriages of young girls and other abuses of women. "Honor Diaries" has been praised for bringing attention to the plight of women in Middle Eastern cultures but is also criticized as anti-Muslim propaganda.
"We're talking the worst form of anti-Muslim bigotry couched in terms of a legitimate issue," said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "You don't have to help promote the agenda of Islam haters. That's what you do when you promote this film."
Sternadori said she disagrees with assessments that the film is anti-Muslim. Other Muslim groups support the film, and Muslims helped create it, she said.
The United Nations reports “Every year, millions of women and girls worldwide suffer violence, be it domestic violence, rape, female genital mutilation/cutting, dowry-related killing, trafficking, sexual violence in conflict-related situations, or other manifestations of abuse.” 125 million women have suffered genital mutilation in the Middle East and Africa since 1989. “Honor killings” are estimated to take the lives of 5,000 women worldwide each year. In addition to the information found at the United Nations there is more information reported at Honor Based Violence Awareness and Middle East Forum.
Genital mutilation, honor beatings and honor killings are taking place in the United States. Honor based violence will only grow just like domestic violence does if it is swept under the rug. Many University of South Dakota faculty members are strongly pursuing the cancellation of the showing of Honor Diaries. Pretending this issue does not exist out of fear of reprisal by Islamists and intimidation from groups like CAIR will only empower the culture of honor based violence.
Florida Family Association has prepared an email for you to send to all of the University of South Dakota’s Women and Gender Studies faculty. The email is address to Miglena Sternadori and expresses support for her determination to show the film. The email also expresses concern regarding university faculty who not only want to censor the truth about honor abuse at the hands of Islamist but are using strong arm tactics on a colleague to accomplish such censorship.
The email for this article was deactivated after the showing date of the film.
Contact information:
The University of South Dakota
414 E. Clark Street
Vermillion, SD 57069-2390
T (605) 677-5011
F (605) 677-5073
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James W. Abbott
University of South Dakota
President
Phone 677-5641
Fax 677- 6520
James.Abbott@usd.edu
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Jim Moran, Ph.D
University of South Dakota
Provost and V.P. for Academic Affairs
Jim.Moran@usd.edu
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University of South Dakota College of Arts & Sciences Women and Gender Studies Faculty & Staff
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Department & Office |
Contact |
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Dona Davis
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DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY, INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, WOMEN AND GENDER STUDIES
East Hall 318 |
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Sara Lampert
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HISTORY, WOMEN AND GENDER STUDIES
East Hall |
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Carol Leibiger
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Assoc Prof/Info Lit Coord
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WOMEN AND GENDER STUDIES
I D Weeks Library 130B |
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Lynita Newswander
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DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, WOMEN AND GENDER STUDIES
Dakota Hall 129 |
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Jack Niemonen
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DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY, WOMEN AND GENDER STUDIES
East Hall 312 |
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Carolyn Prentice
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION STUDIES, WOMEN AND GENDER STUDIES
UB 214 |
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Molly Rozum
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HISTORY, WOMEN AND GENDER STUDIES
East Hall |
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Miglena Sternadori
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DEPARTMENT OF MEDIA & JOURNALISM, WOMEN AND GENDER STUDIES
Al Neuharth Media Center 205 |
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Cindy Struckman-john
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HUMAN FACTORS PROGRAM, DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY, WOMEN AND GENDER STUDIES
South Dakota Union Bldg 206B |
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Jill Tyler
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Chair, Communication Studies
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION STUDIES, GOVERNMENT RESEARCH BUREAU, WOMEN AND GENDER STUDIES
Noteboom Hall 301 |
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SD Board of Regents
306 East Capitol Ave, Suite 200
Pierre, SD 57501
605 773 3455
info@sdbor.edu
Jack R. Warner, Executive Director and CEO
jack.warner@sdbor.edu.
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