Texas State Social Awareness Film Club

Texas State’s Social Awareness Documentary Film Club welcomed film director Scott Thurman to their most recent meeting.

Some people may not be aware, but Texas State University plays host to a multitude of informative or entertaining clubs. The members of SADOC, or the Social Awareness Documentary Film Club, prefer to blend these styles of clubs together. Using the power of LBJ’s many high definition projectors, the SADOC meets three to four times a year to view and discuss documentaries focusing on sociopolitical issues. Last Wednesday, the SADOC welcomed Texas film director Scott Thurman. Thurman is the director of “The Revisionaries,” a documentary finished in 2012 focusing on the political and religious conflicts waged earlier this decade between members of the Texas State Board of Education. Following a free showing of the documentary, Thurman also stuck around to speak to the audience.

“Every day, I’ll go on Twitter and see somebodies outrage. They just saw this movie, the “Revisionaries”, and it’s another reason they DON’T want to go to Texas; or they tell their friends about it from Texas. It’s kinda sad, and in a way, I wanted people to be upset about that. But I think a lot of people overlook the fact that there are a lot of good people fighting the good fight here in Texas.”
– Scott Thurman

The Revisionaries weaves a narrative centering on decisions made by members of the State Board of Education, whose actions influence the curriculum and learning of nearly 5 million Texas children. In the late 2000s, controversy surrounding the 15 member board came to light. By using interviews and recordings of actual board meetings, especially focusing on the two year reign of extreme, right-wing and self-proclaimed “young earth creationist” Don McLeroy as chairman, Thurman is able to demonstrate the religiously charged nature of the board.

Throughout the documentary, members led by McLeroy discuss and vote into existence laws which change the way kids all over the state learn about Evolution and history itself; which has, in effect, sparked what many call the “Culture Wars.”

The Social Awareness Documentary Film Club will meet again on March 24 in LBJ room 3-4.1 at 7 p.m. for a showing of “Of Two Minds”. Any Texas State student is welcome.

Jordan Collins, KTSW News